January 24

Do you know how in your mind you picture a good workout or result and when it comes time to deliver you just don’t have it? For some reason that has been the sum of my week. Earlier in the week I had some sessions where I just didn’t feel like I had the gas to get thru a very easy workout. Same thing yesterday with my swim. I had 1,000 yards scheduled (which should be easy) and did complete it in 23 minutes, but it was a difficult finish. That could also be contributed to the fact that my company bought us Chinese Food for lunch and of course I indulged about 90 minutes prior to hitting the water. So after promising to eat a good dinner in preparation for my Saturday run what do we do? We go out with a few other families and have some beers and Mexican! It was good, but once again not the best of willpower.
My intentions this morning were to do at least 6 miles easy, but when the alarm went off, the first thing I did was hit snooze, and second thing was I debated my sanity as to why I want to get up at 6am on one of the few days I can sleep in. However the overall goal got me out of the bed within 15 minutes. Once I was up and caffeinated I realized it was raining so I changed my plan of action. The run today was only 3 miles but I did it at 29min, which for me is good. Any sub 10 minute mile time is a good pace, but for three miles I will take it every day. I qualify for the plodder club, not the gazelle club but I hope that plays into my cards for the longer distance race later this year.
So the goal for the last month and a half has been to get out, load up on some easy pace workouts in all three disciplines, and get on a semi schedule to prep for the year. Any improvements in fitness or form were an afterthought. Now the fun begins. Next Tuesday I start the “official” plan for the year with a 9 week half-marathon workup for the ING Atlanta in March. After a week off from that it’s off to the full 70.3 plan. I am looking forward to it all, but I think I am coming closer to grips as to the challenge that is ahead. I am not a gifted high speed runner or cyclist, and it is going to take a lot of patience to get where I need to be. However I am fully confident that I will get there and work thru the challenges of time, training, family, and reality.