'Stress is a funny thing, it makes you feel ways you shouldn't and want to do unreasonable things because you are feeling cornered. We get stressed for all different reasons, but the results in our lives are almost always the same.
I was feeling stressed last night because I left for work at 815 in the morning and got home at 7 in the evening, and I came home to a letter from the county saying that the infiltration (which was installed per their instructions) is installed wrong and must be removed or they will fine me.
It's not that big a deal, I went to the county building today and I think it's worked out, but last night, just wanting to relax and feel better, I had some beer, and subsequently remembered why I don't like drinking beer.
Sure, it relaxes me for a little while, buuutt, then I have to deal with the aftermath of being dehydrated and unable to sleep.
Which brings me to 330 this morning, me, awake, lying in bed staring up at the ceiling unable to sleep. So I got up, and I had a big jug of water, and then a coffee while I looked at the news stories online (don't have tv), and then from 5 am to 7 am I rode my trainer in the garage and watched Seinfeld on DVD. And you know what? I loved it. I like being up super early, with time to do what I want to do without feeling like I am cheating time from somewhere else. I love the feeling of having accomplished a lot before other people are awake (well, if you consider working out for 2 hours accomplishing a lot). Either way, it's more than most have done. Annnnd, I love training with a heart rate monitor. It's terrific to look down and know exactly how much I'm exerting myself, the two hours was still difficult by the end of it, but I stayed at around 70% of my max HR the whole time, and know without a doubt that I am definately doing base training for the first time in my life (purposefully anyway... the truth is I have no idea what level I have trained at for the last couple years because I haven't used a HR monitor).
For the time being, I will know my heart rate and train in a particular zone with a purpose, but because I'm on a trainer for the bike portion during the winter, I'll really have no idea if I'm improving at all. But the truth is, if I stick with my plan and actually work out consistently six days a week, and do a real base training I have no need to worry about improving, I won't be able to help but improve since it will be the first time I've actually trained right. I mean, take a look at my year this year, I've done alright for my goals, almost met all of them and improved dramatically over the year before, all without any kind of structured training plan (well, I had a training plan I designed myself, but I didn't really stick to it at all and it didn't include proper base training or peaking for a race). All I really did was run bike and swim a little more than I have before (well a lot more in the case of swimming). But I did it all ass backwards, doing 1 mile speed running intervals on the track in February and March, giving myself shin splints so I had to stop running for a while. I was doing 60 mile race pace time trials on my bike in april and may, trying on every outing to beat my previous time (not exactly base training). And swimming? Well, I swam you know? And I'm proud of how much swimming I did. It wasn't perfect, but I got in a few 2 and 3 mile swims and even one 3 hour swim in a river prior to Ironman. I might not have started soon enough on putting in the distance in swimming, but I definately improved dramatically and made it through the Ironman swim in 1:27 (I even got second place in my age group out of 6 guys overall).
Anyway, needless to say, I'm excited for the coming year, and I'm excited to train right and hopefully become truly fit, which I don't think I've ever been. My ambient heart rate (sitting down) is still around 70, I'd like to see that around 60 or lower, and feel like I am truly improving my health and not just suffering repeatedly through strenuous training and racing days.
So here's to heart rate monitors, base training, waking up in the wee hours of the night to exercise, and becoming fit!
“Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them and you have their shoes.”
Jack Handey quotes
Monday, November 19, 2007
Saturday, November 17, 2007
In sickness and in health
Been a while since I've written anything, so I figure I better get back on the horse before it gets away.
We're supposed to cherrish our loved one for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, etcetera...you know the drill. Well, it seems like with little kids, there is a lot more of the in sickness part than there used to be. Jack goes to school and gets sick, Isaac goes to daycare and out to nightclubs and gets sick (ok maybe just to daycare), and then they bring it all home to mom and dad. Plus, my best bud has three little ones who are always getting sick and transferring their sicknesses over to us. That's the case with our last bug we just got over. It was like a two week flu! We got sick right after completing the Tri-Cities Marathon, and are just getting better. That's right, Audrey completed her first full marathon! What a gal huh? She's also committed to do an Ironman with her best friend in three years. Awesome!
So needless to say, because of sickness, my base training has not yet begun for the 08 season. But it's very much on my mind. I've finally gotten back in the gym since being sick, today for the second time, and you know something? Lifting feels damn good. With all of the endurance sports I've gotten pretty far away from the weight room anymore and I forgot how strong you feel and the vitality it brings. So I'm totally committed to maintaining a weight lifting schedule amid my base training for swimming biking and running, I figure I could get in the gym three times a week no problem.
Speaking of base training I had a thought while I was at work yesterday (surrounded by bicycles), when it's particularly slow at work, why don't I just throw on some bike shorts, get on one of the bikes already hooked up to trainers and do a quick (one or two hours) workout? I mean, it's not like I couldn't help customers while I was spinning, after all it's base training, I can speak intelligently at 140 heart beats per minute. In fact, it would probably increase my level of customer service, being more energetic and feeling good, you know?
It's so easy to get bored at work when there are no customers. There's things to do, of course, but without the customers it's almost harder to get them done, harder to stay focused and energetic.
Well, it would be a great idea, but my work ethic won't allow it. One of the guys told me that last winter they would sit on the counter and play cards for hours when it was slow, and race tricycles around the perimiter of the store (better not happen this year).
On another note, the Bonney Lake house is allllmost done, just need the driveway installed per plan and hopefully I'll be set. On the darker side however, I still don't know if I'll be getting it sold, refinancing it or filing for Bankruptcy...SeLaVi! (I think that's french for Fuck It!)
I'm finally getting rid of my car and getting a cheaper one, Hooooraayyy! Boy did I ever get in over my head with a 40 some thousand dollar car! So now, as long as things go right, I'll be driving a 23 thousand dollar Hybrid Aura. Sounds good to me, 35 MPG!
Also, I've been drinking less, woohoo! The sickness really helped I'll admit, but none the less it is a success. My goal is to simply not drink every day. It's not good for my training. And I get to feeling wore out after a while.
Well, I do believe I'll leave you with a few quotes:
If it's sent by ship then it's a cargo, if it's sent by road then it's a shipment.
-- Dave Allen
The day after tomorrow is the third day of the rest of your life.
-- George Carlin
Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save.
-- Will Rogers
My experience has taught me that a man who has no vices has damned few virtues.
-- Abraham Lincoln (Abraham Lincoln is a genius)
All I've ever wanted was an honest week's pay for an honest day's work.
-- Steve Martin
Always and never are two words you should always remember never to use.
-- Wendell Johnson
You're not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on.
-- Dean Martin
We're supposed to cherrish our loved one for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, etcetera...you know the drill. Well, it seems like with little kids, there is a lot more of the in sickness part than there used to be. Jack goes to school and gets sick, Isaac goes to daycare and out to nightclubs and gets sick (ok maybe just to daycare), and then they bring it all home to mom and dad. Plus, my best bud has three little ones who are always getting sick and transferring their sicknesses over to us. That's the case with our last bug we just got over. It was like a two week flu! We got sick right after completing the Tri-Cities Marathon, and are just getting better. That's right, Audrey completed her first full marathon! What a gal huh? She's also committed to do an Ironman with her best friend in three years. Awesome!
So needless to say, because of sickness, my base training has not yet begun for the 08 season. But it's very much on my mind. I've finally gotten back in the gym since being sick, today for the second time, and you know something? Lifting feels damn good. With all of the endurance sports I've gotten pretty far away from the weight room anymore and I forgot how strong you feel and the vitality it brings. So I'm totally committed to maintaining a weight lifting schedule amid my base training for swimming biking and running, I figure I could get in the gym three times a week no problem.
Speaking of base training I had a thought while I was at work yesterday (surrounded by bicycles), when it's particularly slow at work, why don't I just throw on some bike shorts, get on one of the bikes already hooked up to trainers and do a quick (one or two hours) workout? I mean, it's not like I couldn't help customers while I was spinning, after all it's base training, I can speak intelligently at 140 heart beats per minute. In fact, it would probably increase my level of customer service, being more energetic and feeling good, you know?
It's so easy to get bored at work when there are no customers. There's things to do, of course, but without the customers it's almost harder to get them done, harder to stay focused and energetic.
Well, it would be a great idea, but my work ethic won't allow it. One of the guys told me that last winter they would sit on the counter and play cards for hours when it was slow, and race tricycles around the perimiter of the store (better not happen this year).
On another note, the Bonney Lake house is allllmost done, just need the driveway installed per plan and hopefully I'll be set. On the darker side however, I still don't know if I'll be getting it sold, refinancing it or filing for Bankruptcy...SeLaVi! (I think that's french for Fuck It!)
I'm finally getting rid of my car and getting a cheaper one, Hooooraayyy! Boy did I ever get in over my head with a 40 some thousand dollar car! So now, as long as things go right, I'll be driving a 23 thousand dollar Hybrid Aura. Sounds good to me, 35 MPG!
Also, I've been drinking less, woohoo! The sickness really helped I'll admit, but none the less it is a success. My goal is to simply not drink every day. It's not good for my training. And I get to feeling wore out after a while.
Well, I do believe I'll leave you with a few quotes:
If it's sent by ship then it's a cargo, if it's sent by road then it's a shipment.
-- Dave Allen
The day after tomorrow is the third day of the rest of your life.
-- George Carlin
Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save.
-- Will Rogers
My experience has taught me that a man who has no vices has damned few virtues.
-- Abraham Lincoln (Abraham Lincoln is a genius)
All I've ever wanted was an honest week's pay for an honest day's work.
-- Steve Martin
Always and never are two words you should always remember never to use.
-- Wendell Johnson
You're not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on.
-- Dean Martin
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