Frustrating...

Today I got an email saying that registration for the Dunedin Triathalon was open.   Yes, I could have signed up a while ago, but the email felt a lot different.  Normally, I would have been well into my training, but my knee and hip have ended those aspirations.   Now, I don't know if I will ever compete in one again.   What makes it more frustrating, is I wanted to finish on a better note than I did last year.

Still dragging ass...

I don't quite know what's going on, but I'm still dragging ass a bit.   I went to see Billy Strings last night and just didn't want to get up early today and work out.   No fears, I'll work out tonight, but I feel like I could just crawl back into bed for a few hours.  I've felt that way all week.

On a different note. just go see Billy Strings.   Hopefully before he's only playing in giant amphitheatres.   IMO, he's the best guitarist you can see today and after 4 or 5 shows, I'm still amazed that 5 guys, all playing accoustic instruments can make those sounds.  It's more like a psychedelic experience than a bluegrass concert.

Draggin Ass...

I don't know why, but the past day or so, I've been feeling like everything is a struggle.   It really came to a head last night during endurance.   I skipped speed in the morning because it was an encore, and had a great nights sleep, but I was struggling to keep up in endurance.  I still finished 9th, but I had to gut it out and felt wrecked afterwards.  I was wondering if I was getting sick, but Oura says no, and I felt better today.   Maybe it's because I skipped speed.  I do believe those are the days that matter more than the PR days, but I still felt awful...   Today was tough but not all there.  I guess I'm going to be the bug for a few days.

Otherwise, it's been a pretty solid month.  My weight feels like it's finally goign to go back under 230.  I've been keeping up with pretty regular weight training which I needed.   I've also been rowing every week (hit a new PB on Sunday) and sticking to Monday as a rest day.   I might need to move my rest day this quarter due to the new schedule changes, but I think I'll be able to adjust and come up with something new.   I'm looking forward to the Long Center re-opening so I can start swimming again.   Aside from all of that, I've been sleeping well and until recently feeling great.

All that said, let's talk about March shall we?

Weight Results:

• Starting Weight: 238.0
• Ending Weight: 234.4

Exercise Info:

• Number of rides: 112
• Time on exercise: 31:56:33
• Distance on rides: 493.7
• Number of rows: 10
• Time rowing: 310
• Distance Rowing: 75487m
• Weight Workouts: 5

And in case you forgot, here were my March goals:

• Ride 500 miles
• March Apple Fitness challenge
• Perfect Month in Apple
• Gold in my March challenge - This will be a challenge because my team only has 2 members.
• Continue weekly weight workouts.
• Continue weekly row.
• Break 14k meters in the 60 min row
• Depending on my knee/hip try to walk
• Get my weight below 230 and stay there.

Well, I think overall I did pretty well.   No, I didn't hit 500 miles, but I've made some choices to focus on a more balanced workout plan instead of just cycle, cycle, cycle.   I could have easily hopped on the bike on Sunday or Monday for 20 minutes and gotten the 7 miles, but I think rest and a better plan will be better overall for me.   I'll probably have to dial back the annual totals, but that's ok as long as I feel like I'm going in the right direction.   The more disappointing miss is my weight.   Yes, I feel like it's trending down, but good fucking god, I need to stop eating like a fat kid in a candy store every weekend and then having to catch up.  I also didn't get gold, but that's impossible on a two person team and my other teammate stopped halfway through the month, but I did my part.

Otherwise?   I've been smashing the rows, and weight training.  Definitely stronger and rowing faster.   I don't know if it's possible, but I think I can get a 17k meter day, and I am considering a 1/2 marathon row.  I think that will take about 90-100 minutes.  Won't be happening on Easter, but maybe next weekend.  Hip and knee still not ok with walking, but the good days seem to outnumber the bad ones.

So what's up for April?   Easter!  Race week!  Merinda is going to Ireland for a week or so, so busy times away from exercise, but I think I'll still get a good month in and here's what I want to accomplish:

• Ride 450 miles
• April Apple Fitness challenge
• Perfect Month in Apple
• Gold in my April challenge
• Continue weekly weight workouts.  Try for 2 dedicated weight routines and at least one I&A
• Continue weekly row.
• Break 17k meters in the 60 min row and warmup
• Depending on my knee/hip try to walk
• Get my weight below 230 and stay there.

Since I'll be in St. Augustine for a few days, and keeping some rest days, I decided to lower my monthly target to 450.   I'd like to get to 500 miles, and honestly, if I included the rows I'd be way over, but I'd rather push to 500 and beat my goal, than set it to 500 and miss again.  Everything else is feasible.  If my metrics had come through on my warmup I would have been at 16.9k meters last Sunday, so I can see a 17k day this month.

Ok, that's enough for this month.  Wish us luck at Race Week and we'll chat soon.  Stay safe!

In like a lion?!?

I though it would be good to talk about fitness instead of politics, even though both have me worn out right now.   Not really sure what I did to myself, but I feel absolutely shattered today.   Yes, wednesday is one of the "harder" days of the week this quarter, and yes, I didn't have a great nights sleep, but it doesn't explain why I feel devoid of energy.  I guess I'll just have to go to bed a little earlier tonight.  Hills was tough this morning, but not that hard...

 So how was February?  Lots of good and a little bit of bad.  Let's start with the raw numbers shall we:

Weight Results:

• Starting Weight: 235.8
• Ending Weight: 234.8

Exercise Info:

• Number of rides: 94
• Time on exercise: 30:03:18
• Distance on rides: 453.75
• Number of rows: 2
• Time rowing: 1:11:43
• Distance Rowing: 7508m
• Weight Workouts: 2

And in case you forgot, here were my February goals:

• Ride 500 miles
• February Apple Fitness challenge
• Perfect Month in Apple
• Gold in my February challenge
• Continue weekly weight workouts.
• Depending on my knee/hip try to row and possibly walk
• Read at least one book
• Get my weight below 230

I always like to start off with the bad because lets get that out of the way.   I missed my mileage target by almost 10%, nor did I get weekly weight training in.  However, neither of those were what I was most disappointed about, no that was my weight, which just refuses to go below 230 and stay there.  I did flash below 230 before I ballooned back up to over 240 just a few days later.   No, I didn't actually gain 11 pounds, but I am frustrated by the seesaw weight gain and loss.  

So what actually went well?  I knocked everything else out of the park.   Despite missing my target, I did take three rest days last month, and I've finally started remembering that I need to take those from time to time.   I'm hopeful that I will maintain my pace of taking one a week and doing some weight training and/or something not cardio focused.   I also started rowing again.  Echelon dropped a 60 minute row class with Michael Brown, which I took and loved, and have started taking that every Sunday as a replacement for Vibes.   Thanks to Merinda for that suggestion.   Yes, I closed my rings, yes I got gold.  No, I didn't do weight training every week, but I've been starting and that's what is important.   I've also begun to ramp up the intensity of my workouts.   More multi-workout days which I hope will push my weight down.  Finally, I read two, yes that's right TWO books on vacation and I'm trying to keep reading.

I've also embraced the Oura ring and it's been very helpful in helping me try and get better sleep.   Generally, my sleep scores are good, but more importantly I've eliminated my sleep debt which has made a huge difference in how I feel overall.

Ok, that's old news, what's the plan for this month?

• Ride 500 miles
• March Apple Fitness challenge
• Perfect Month in Apple
• Gold in my March challenge - This will be a challenge because my team only has 2 members.
• Continue weekly weight workouts.
• Continue weekly row.
• Break 14k meters in the 60 min row
• Depending on my knee/hip try to walk
• Get my weight below 230 and stay there.

As I look at this I think the biggest challenge I'm going to have, besides getting my weight where I want it to be, is going to hit 500 miles.   If I continue to row on Sunday, and then take rest days, I'll miss 1-2 days per week of cycling, and that's going to mean I need to make up the distance.  I might not take every Monday off, but it felt pretty good this week, so I'll see how it goes this month and if need be I'll revisit my monthly goal.   I would like to try and walk, but my knee and hip are proving to be awkward, so no promises there. 

One last thing I'll have to start soon is my dive certification.   I can still get some exercise in on those days, but I suspect swimming will be enough.   I'm also planning to get back to swim training when the Long Center reopens, so that will be cross training day.   Since I don't see running in any future plans I'm considering just bike/swim and maybe doing the Aquabike instead of the full triathalon later.

Enough chatting, I'm sure we all have other things to do.   Hopefully, the world will calm down and we can just stick to fitness...   Stay safe folks, have a great month and talk soon.

Not on my bingo card...

I never figured that Iran, of all countries, would be the one that made the US be the bad guy on the international stage.   Now before any magats get their panties in a wad, there is a world where you can simultaenously; believe that Iran's leadership was truly evil and that it is wrong, yes I said wrong, for the US to aggressively attack and destabilize the country.

I remember the Iran hostage crisis and I have no love lost for the Ayatollah but that doesn't mean the US can launch a war of aggression simply because Israel wants to.  We are well on a path to become an pariah in the world all thanks to the Fanta Fuhrer and his sycophants.

I'll get back to fitness tomorrow...   

Rest Day...

For a variety of reasons neither Merinda or I slept well for the past few days on the cruise so I decided to have a true "rest day" yesterday and it was awesome.   I really need to do a little more of that, especially since I ended up sleeping like a baby last night.

Maybe it was the bed, drinking, food, who knows.   Just that being at home, in our comfy bed, with my weighted blanket and I was out for the count last night.  Just hoping it stays that way tonight.

Unfortunately I need to make up a little distance to hit 500 this month.  Will keep you posted.

FYI vacation was good but could have been better.   Still nice to get away given I won't be taking any time off for a while now.

Slowly getting back on track...

I feel like I'm finally getting back on track.   While my weight hasn't really budged, although its closer to 230 than 240 THANK GOD, it's been stubborn as hell and refuses to dip back into the 220's.  Hopefully I keep pushing hard and see some results.   Of course, we're going to be on a cruise next week, but since it's Carnival I don't expect to eat as much.   We'll see how that goes.

So, what went on in January?   Well the distance challenge ended.   I was a little disappointed in how it finished.  I didn't get a century day in, nor did I hit 2000 miles.   Yes, I got a nasty cold at the end, but not going to make excuses.   We travelled a LOT, and I mean A LOT, during the challenge and it impacted my results in a negative way.

So let's talk about the actual numbers:

Weight Results:

• Starting Weight: 
• Ending Weight: 

Exercise Info:

• Number of rides: 115
• Time on exercise: 36:39:03
• Distance on rides: 627.14
• Number of rows: 0
• Time rowing: 0
• Distance Rowing: 0
• Weight Workouts: 1

Couple things stand out.   Again, while I'm still over my target weight it's beginning to trend down.   That's a very positive thing.  I also crushed my mileage target.  Since I won't be running and my knee/hip is still a lot tender so I've avoided the rower, I have to do more cycling which isn't altogether a bad thing, but I won't lie, I miss running and seeing races I did last year come up and knowing I can't compete is tough.  Cross training is so important and I'm really in a bad spot.  I finally got a cortisone shot in my knee, but it's not the miracle shot Merinda got, or maybe my knee is just that bad.   I'm leaning towards option #2.

It was close, but I did get my January challenge done and closed my rings etc...  and I started some weight work.  I've been trying to get more cycling with arms but it was good to do some straight lifting.   Looking forward to continuing that and building on it once we get home.

Last thing that was of interest was I broke down and bought an Oura ring.  I've wanted to get some sleep tracking and readiness data for a long time, and while the Apple watch *can* do it, it's really not ideal.   First off, I hate wearing a watch to bed but more importantly, it's battery just can't support it.   I almost got a whoop, but I didn't want to wear another bulky device, so the ring was a good choice.   Not sure about it's cost, but even after a week, the data it's delivering is pretty solid and it only gets better the longer I have it.   IThe only concern I have is that as I lose weight the ring might get loose and the only recourse is to buy another.   Not really ideal but we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

Anyway, what's the plan for February?   Besides a book or two on the cruise?  Well, a lot of working out :)

• Ride 500 miles
• February Apple Fitness challenge
• Perfect Month in Apple
• Gold in my February challenge
• Continue weekly weight workouts.
• Depending on my knee/hip try to row and possibly walk
• Read at least one book
• Get my weight below 230

I think these are very feasible.  I'll be cycling on the boat, and while I won't maintain a 22 mile average per day, I think ~17 per day is reasonable.  Plus I'll be walking a bit so I should see a good amount of exercise on the cruise.   No diving this trip, but that's going to come soon enough.  I should be a third done with the monthly challenge by the time we leave, so I can finish that once we're home.  Otherwise, it's shaping up to be a solid month. 

In closing, I've been working to increase my overall endurance.  Not sure how it happened, but I seem to have lost a bit of that, despite the distance challenge etc...   So I've been ramping up the amount and duration of my workouts.   I'm going to try and keep it at 60 minutes/day on the cruise and I'll get some weight training in once I'm home.  I'll also share some of the Oura data in case anyone is interested in getting one.

Now, if only I could get my blood pressure down...  Glad to be getting myself back on track and talk soon!