So, Spring is here and I’ve officially started training for my season of triathlons and the Ragnar Relay. As usual, I’m starting off heavy, about 195 lbs. Last year I think I may have lost 5 lbs. the entire season, which sucks. I blame that on not really training hard enough and not having nutritional philosophy. What basically happened is I worked out and then consumed 2x the calories I just burned because I was so hungry, and not healthy food.
This year, I have some difficult races that I simply do not feel I can do at 195lbs. So, there is my motivation. In June, I have a Ragnar Relay. This is a race where 12 people get into a van and run from u pstate New York to the Bronx. Each runner doing three legs. I have the easiest assignment: 3.9 miles, 3.5 miles, and 3 miles with very easy elevation gains. In July, I have the NYC Triathlon. This is a 1 miles swim in the swift Hudson, 40k bike, 10k run. Last year I did it in about 3 hours, 30 minutes. This year, I want to do under 3 hours. At the very end of the season, I have a Toughman half-Ironman. This is the mack-daddy race that I’m simply not ready for. 1.2 miles swim (in still water), 56 mile bike, and a half-marathon.
Yesterday, I ran a little over 6 miles. Last week I did a little over 4. For the 6, I averaged 14 minute miles, which is like I was fast-walking. Still, I stuck it out and felt pretty strong. I’m controlling what I eat, too, hoping to keep my metabolism and enzyme levels in fat-burning mode all of the time. I’ll be swimming once a week and doing bike once a week. I also took a Yoga class which was taught by a Triathlete Yoga instructor and she told us how to use Yoga to recover and strengthen your core. So, I’ll work on that too.
When it warms up, I’ll do 2 runs, 2 bikes, and probably keep swimming as a once a week activity just because it’s such a pain to get to the pool. Last year I stopped going to Tae Kwon Do the entire time I was training, over 4 months. This year I’m going at least once a week to make sure I continue to advance that. I’m trying to get my son Marco into sparring too, so hopefully that will get me back into training for a tournament in the fall.
As usual, I can’t do any of this without the support of my family and friends. I appreciate any words of encouragement you can offer!
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