Weekly Review / Holidays

Had a pretty good week workout wise. I'm finally getting back in the groove and getting accustomed to planning my work week so I can fit in all of the workouts. I can also tell I'm "training" again because I can't eat enough right now. I'm constantly hungry. I guess this appetite will settle down in a few weeks.

For the week I hit all of the scheduled workouts although I did cut one of the bike rides short by about 10 minutes.

• Cycling - 6
• Running - 3:35
• Swimming - 2:45
• Weights - 1:15

I'm trying to hit the weights twice a week after swims and try to rebuild some of the muscle I burned off in the fall. I enjoy the weight room and wish I could fit in 3-4 sessions per week but it's just not doable at this time. I typically focus on total body and will super set several exercises due to time constraints. I can tell my strength is slowly coming back... In my younger years I lifted weights quite a bit and at one time I could bench around 315. I was also 45lbs heavier then and could barely run a mile. I now weigh 165 and can probably bench 245 once. Man how times have changed!!! I will say I'm much happier and much more full filled with triathlons then I ever was with weightlifting.

I did a 1000 yard time trial in the pool this morning. My plan here is to establish an initial marker in the pool and then I'll retest every couple of weeks to see if I'm improving. My New Year's resolution is to join a master's group. I'll probably join the Lifetime Master's Group in Garland (close to work). I'm at a stage where I've taught myself all that I can in regards to swimming so it's time for a coach.

Next week I plan on cutting back a little on the time, spending time with family and doing some testing on the bike and the run. I'm going to do a LTHR test on the bike on Tuesday or Wednesday (depending on the weather) and then do the LTHR test on the run on Sunday. I'll use these scores to re-establish heart rate zones for training as I believe they have changed from last year. As you can tell I'm too cheap to pay $150.00 at Lifetime or to local coaches and have this test done. I'll eventually get it done professionally (perhaps before I start training for IM Florida) but right now I've got better things to spend $150.00 on.

We've got family coming in on Tuesday so it's pretty hectic around our house right now, getting things clean, wrapping presents, last minute shopping. I tried to explain to my wife that as a triathlete it's important that I conserve my energy for the next workout and that I get in my proper rest. She didn't see things my way and quickly assigned me to toilet duty..... (Team Seabiscuit Members - I even gave her two choices!!!!) Oh well, that's a battle I wasn't going to win today.

Things are exciting around the house right now. The kids are out of school for two weeks and are counting down the days to Santa's arrival. Their "wish list" changes daily. The latest is a jet pack and a robot that will do their chores for them. Sometimes they drive me crazy but I know that I'll blink one day and they will be grown and have families of their own and Jennifer and I will be begging them to come home or let us come to their house for the holidays :)

Gotta enjoy the moment!!! Merry Christmas.