Who Dat?, Progress and a Birthday Party

Let me start by saying that I tried to tell everyone all football season that my Saints were going to win the big one.  And win they did.  Honestly, I cannot believe it myself and I didn't think it would happen but it did so WHO DAT?

I have been getting in a good bit of training.  Most of my biking has been on the trainer doing the Spinervals.  I have been able to take out my tri bike out on the road some but not a ton.  I plan to start doing my Saturday brick very soon.  I have been mostly running.  Why?  I have no idea.  Last year I dreaded running.  Hated it.  Now, I will run before I will do anything.  Maybe because it is the easiest thing to do.  All you have to do is put on your shoes and head out the door.  I have been using my time trial workout from my Spinervals for running.  The workout is 3 minute warm up then 7 x 90s at LT plus 10 beats then 3 minutes tempo at a progressively faster speed every minute.  This has helped tremendously.  I am running at a pace that I couldn't even do 30 seconds of last year.  I guess that will happen if you put in the time.  Needless to say that I have seen some progress and I'm pretty stoked about it!  I put that progress to the test in a 5k not too long ago.  I had a goal time of 25 minutes and also a goal to run an even race.  By even I mean pacing myself.  I called a friend of mine in the middle of the week to see if he wanted to run and we decided to do so.  It was pretty chilly that morning (38) and I couldn't decide to wear gloves or not.  I didn't but my hands never got cold.  My feet did before the race but that was it.  Maybe if I wore socks that wouldn't happen.  When the race started I intentionally held back.  We started off down a hill so I really had to hold back.  People were flying by me but that was ok.  I passed all of them later. My first mile was 8:10.  I settled into the race and just stayed the course.  The course was roller after roller which was good.  My next mile was 7:58.  I looked down at my watch and thought that sub 25 was a good possibility.  My last mile was my slowest but not because of my fitness.  I actually got bored.  For the whole race we had been running up and down hills and then we hit a huge flat section and I slowed down.  Towards the end I put my head down and brought it home.  We finished up that hill that we started on.  It wasn't bad because it was the end.  I headed towards the chute and finished in.....24:55.  Sub 25.  Again Progress.  It was a very small race with not too many people and I even finished 2nd in my age group.  I actually finished behind a guy I graduated with, Jason, so Columbia, MS was well represented.  Actually he lived in the same neighborhood as I did so Lakeview was representing! Go Lakeview!!  I feel like I actually could have pushed harder and I will get the chance to do that March 19th at a night 5k no less.

Last but not least Mr. Jackson Ladd Hancock turned 2.  We had a party complete with lots of food, family and friends and even Elmo himself.  He got lots of gifts and had a blast.  Jacob had fun too and of course all of those new gifts were for him not Jackson.  Happy Birthday Jack Jack!!

Where do I even begin?

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!!

Stomach Virus 10k

I know it has been a while since my last post but I still don't have much to report. The last time was the day before the 10k here in Hattiesburg. Well....that didn't happen. I got the good old stomach virus. I started feeling badly late Friday night and it didn't get any better. There was almost no sleep either. I felt so bad in the middle of the night I even turned off my alarm. I still woke up in time to go but there was no chance. I was sick all Saturday.

So with no races planned for the rest of the year I decided to take on a new challenge. A non-swim-bike-run challenge. I have given up diet drinks. Normally I would say just diet coke and everyone that lives here in the South would know that meant all drinks but I do have some non-southern readers. I have to say that is has been alot easier than I thought it would be. I really haven't missed them at all. I even bought some caffeine pills to subside the lack of caffeine and I think I have only taken two. The best side effect has been the loss of weight. It has just been peeling off. Shhhh...nobody tell Jenn I am losing weight because I cut out the diet drinks. She has been saying it would do it but I will never admit to her that is why. Just don't tell her. I am not far from my weight in 10th grade.

Running has been most of my exercise. I have been doing it some and I have even ridden my bike, but still no swimming. I signed up to run a 10k next Saturday and I have been training some for that. I won't be there to set any recors. My main goal now has to be just to start and finish with the way my last two races have gone.

Hey what do you know now my Saints are 12-0.

Gordon's Creek Downtown Hattiesburg 10k

I am such a bad blogger. Or at least I am bad at actually blogging. It is just so hard to do during football season (my first passion). I mean we almost have football on every night of the week and I love it. Even though I haven't been blogging I have been training. I have run these past few weeks more than I ever have mileage wise. I am ready or at least I think I am. I had a hilly 7 mile run in and around my neighborhood last Saturday that was good. I really pushed the pace in the latter half to check my fitness. I don't know if this course will be flat or hilly but I am sure with it being downtown there won't be many hills that are brutal. Honestly I don't even know where I am supposed to go tomorrow. I think it starts at the train depot. My son Jacob will be jealous. He loves him some trains. Especially if one comes into the depot he will be sad he missed it. One thing good about tomorrow is the weather. It is supposed to be absolutely perfect for running. It should be in the upper 40's at the start of the race.

Unlike a triathon there is no packing for a 10k but there are a few equipment decisions to be made. The most important one is long sleeves or not. I could even go with my arm warmers and take them off if I need to. I'm afraid I would look like a dork if I had those. The second one are which shoes to wear. I could wear my new K Swiss that are lighter but don't offer as much support or my regular Brooks that I train in. Either way both pairs of shoes have laces that can't come untied so my problems at my last 5k can't happen. The last decision that had to be made has already been made. That is what music to load into my Ipod and please don't preach to me about running with an Ipod and safety issues. I don't have mine all of the way up and I am very aware of my surroundings. Instead of being upset with runners wearing Ipods I think we should look at all of the people wearing them inside of cars while driving. That can't be safe and I have been seeing alot of that lately.

I think you can learn alot about someone by what music they listen to so I will share my playlist for tomorrow for you guys to learn more about me. Just don't look to learn much.

My Playlist (Lance's mad tracks)

1. Solsbury Hill-Dave Matthews and friends
2. Naive-The Kooks (jenn's favorite song)
3. Lollipop-Lil Wayne
4. Calling You-Blue October
5. Cold-Crossfade
6. The '59 Sound-The Gaslight Anthem
7. Big Pimpin-Jay-Z
8. Hide and Seek-Imogen Heap
9. Richman-3OH!3
10. Emily Smiles-Blue Mountain
11. Soul Shine-Beth Hart
12. How We Operate-Gomez
13. I Will not Bow-Breaking Benjamin
14. Groove Me-Blue Mountain
15. I'm Not Your Boyfriend-3OH!3
16. Jellyroll-Cary Hudson
17. One Sweet World-Dave Matthews Band
18. Leave the Light On-Beth Hart
19. Til' Kingdom Comes-Coldplay
20. Anyone Seen the Bridge>Halloween-Dave Matthews Band
21. One Eyed Chicken-Beth Hart

I know for those of you that really know me not as much Dave Matthews Band as you expected. For the rest of you I don't know what you learned. Maybe that I have an eclectic choice in music. I guess so.

So back to the race. Do I have any time goals? No My only small goal is to have negative splits. I am going to find my pace, settle in, check myself at halfway and then if I am feeling good I plan to push the pace home. Wish me luck.

Back to the football. My saints are 7 and 0. Who dat?

All Running

So after my not so lucky triathlon I decided to have a few weeks of just running. I do have a race to train for so running it is. I'm sure I will be ready to bike or swim soon but for now they can wait. Actually, I'm ready to ride my bike now because I got a new bike rack and I'm ready to try it out. I guess I could just ride around with my bike on the back and look "cool".

I looked on Running Planet and found a 10k plan that I liked. It was an 8 week plan so I picked it up at week 5.

First day was an easy 4.5 mile run. No big deal but I had to do it on a treadmill because of the weather. Next I had a speed workout. Warm up and run 2 x 1600 meter repeats at 10K pace. Jog for 800 meters between repeats. Cool down with 800 meters of jogging. This was hard. Very hard because of the heat. It still is hot or was hot on that day. Then I had a rest day.



Friday I had a easy 2 mile run. This was my warm up run before my Saturday run. The weather has finally gotten cooler. The highs on Friday and Saturday were in the 50's. Finally. I even had to wear long sleeves. That is much better running weather than 95 degrees and 100 percent humidity. My planned run for Saturday was 5 miles. I had plans on running early Saturday morning but decided to sleep in (or whatever you call it around here) and go that afternoon. I headed for the Trace at 3. I am getting tired of my same old route so I decided on something new. I still went to Jackson Road but ran towards campus instead of towards Epley. My plan was for 5 easy miles. I felt really good on my out. My heart rate was in the right zone and I was just making my way. Its amazing how much easier it is to run in the cooler weather. I keep telling Jenn it is always like this in Northern California but she doesn't seem to want to move. Oh well Mississippi it is. I got to my turn around and decided to go a little further. I don't know how much further but I passed the 3 mile mark. I made my way back in with over 6 miles. No flat tires and no shoes coming untied so I was good. My legs did get a little sore Saturday night but they were fine on Sunday.

My total mileage for the week was 16 miles. I also did some core workouts on 3 different days and I also did a leg workout from Exercise TV with Jenn that hurt parts of my legs I didn't even know I had muscles in.

Eagleman Race Report (sort of)

I woke up Saturday morning before my alarm clock went off. I was pumped. I knew that I could have trained more but I didn't care. I was going to make the most of this race and just do my best. I had my oatmeal and Accelerade, gathered all of my stuff and headed to the race spot. I was lucky since this was my hometown race and my "A" race. I got there very early and set my spot up. We really got lucky with the weather. Yes it was raining but it was actually in the low 70's. The high the day before was 92 so we got really lucky. We had assigned transition spots so I actually could have gotten there later but I wasn't rushed at all. I sat around and talked to a few people and let the nervousness build up. Finally I had to work some of that off. I went and ran and tried to warm up. I really felt good and my run felt fast. Maybe I would have something to offer on the run. Then I rode my bike for a few minutes.

Time to race. I made my way to the swim start. We had a time trial start from the beach every 3 seconds. Our start order was the order when we signed up and I was 264. Finally it was my turn. I started my watch and ran into the water. My goal for the swim was to find a good rhythm and stay in it. I did just that. I got on someone's feet and paced off of him. Everything was going good until the turn. This is where I got kicked right in the face. I know that is part of swimming but it just got me off rhythm. I never found my rhythm again and also got kicked again but by this time by someone I know. No problems. I made my way into T1, put on my helmet, shoes and headed out. I did my flying mount and made my way down the hill and into the first turn. Making the turn I sensed something wasn't right. My tire feels flat. Feeling defeated I pull over to the side to see what the problem is. Sure enough it is flat. I tried 2 CO2's to air it back up and it isn't going anywhere. I didn't pack a spare so I was DONE. BIG FAT DNF!! Finished before I even got started. I make my way back to the Yukon to put up my bike and who do I see first, my Dad. Great.

I was mad for a while but I realize it is just bad luck. I rode it that morning with no problems but yet it was flat come race time. Go figure. Oh well at least some people got to have fun at the race.

Yes Jacob and Jackson found the mud.

No worries about the race because there is no rest for the weary. I am running a 10k on November 7. This time around I won't have to worry about a flat tire just shoelaces that could come untied but I have taken care of that problem too.

Time to train.

Gametime

Its now gametime. I am less than 24 hours away from the Eagleman Triathlon. 1/3 mile swim, 16.5 mile bike, and a 5k run. I really haven't been able to train like I wanted to but that's ok. I really haven't trained at all but I am not making excuses. We can't all be number 3 in our whole company in sales AND train for a triathlon. One thing I have been able to do is lose weight. I am down about 15 lbs since the last time I posted. That is a good thing. I will post about how I have lost it at a later date. Anyway, I will be having some sushi and drinking Accelerade tonight then it is off to the races in the morning.

Race report will be next week. Wish me luck!