Already falling behind

So far, my goals for the New Year aren't faring so well. My January goal for running was 33 miles, which would have been a new monthly high, but I fell short at 28. Twice, including today, I had to cut runs short due to various issues. It sucks because, I feel like I'm making a ton of excuses lately and sometimes, upon further reflection, I kind of am. I really need to work on not giving up during workouts and pushing through the pain when it isn't unbearable. The motivation isn't coming as much as it once was.

Also, I gained weight this month for the first time in nearly a year. It was only a two-pound gain, but that's a very bad sign that I'm either still not improving my eating habits, I've cut back on my overall exercise, or both. That's making it much harder for me to stay out of the pool, knowing I'm gaining weight when I'm not swimming. The shoulder still hurts, but I'm tempted to say 'screw it' and start swimming again as of next Monday. That would be exactly four weeks since I got my cortisone shot, which was the minimum return time my doctor gave me.

On a more positive note, I did at least reach my cycling goal of 80 miles in January, going 83.65. That's a new monthly high for me. I'm also considering taking up yoga. Call me girly, but the more I hear about it, the more I want to try it. It seems like the benefits of yoga are practically limitless and perhaps that will give me that extra edge I'm looking for as far as improving my overall fitness goes.

Anyway, did a three-mile run today near my house. It was my first time doing an outdoor run in Utah since the Turkey Tri in November. It was cold, but once I got going, my body warmed up significantly. I think I'm going to try doing them more often, now that spring gets closer. I'm getting tired of running on that crappy indoor track...

Total distance: 3 miles running (meh)

Workout with some company

Today was a nice workout because Kelly joined me. I haven't been able to work out with him in a while, so it was nice to have a companion at the gym. Just like me, Kelly is training for a marathon, except he is a much braver soul than I and he is going to do the whole thing. He's already done a half before and he's taking a class up at Weber State that is helping train for the full one.

Initially I wanted to do a 3.5-mile run followed by 35 minutes on the bike. Kelly did a long run yesterday, so he took it easy and paced me for the first mile. However, after 1.5 miles my shins were throbbing. I used to get shin splints often back when I was heavier, but they have become much less of an issue over the past nine months or so. I don't know why they flared up so bad today, especially since I didn't work out yesterday. Perhaps I just didn't stretch right or enough. But I had to call the quits and hop on the bike for the rest of the way.

Because I cut my run short, I went for 45 minutes on the bike instead of 35 minutes. I pushed it a little harder than normal, though and I was working up a nice sweat. I followed it with some light bicep/tricep work and some crunches. Then Kelly and I chatted it up in the sauna for a little while before hitting my place for some grilled-cheese sandwiches and watched an episode of "How I Met Your Mother."

On Sunday, I'm joining Kelly for a 7-mile run up by Dinosaur Park in Ogden. Hopefully I can make it. I've never gone that far before.

Total distance: 1.5 miles running, 12.7 miles cycling

Doctors suck!

I'm starting to lose faith in doctors. Not only have I been told separate things by different doctors regarding what's wrong with my shoulder, the more they continue to try and figure it out, the longer I'm stuck out of the pool. My January 3 trip revealed I still have tendinitis and with a cortisone shot I should be good to go in 4-6 weeks. Well, it's been over three weeks and I haven't noticed even a bit of improvement in the shoulder pain. I've done everything the doctor asked, including regular icing, stretching, an ibuprofen regimen and I've steered clear of any exercise that involves lifting my arms laterally... to no avail.


My doctor feels strangly similar to Leo Spaceman (from 30 Rock)

Perhaps I'm just being impatient. Maybe the pain will magically disappear in the next three weeks, but I highly doubt it. It seems like I'm running out of options and I don't know what to do. There must be something seriously wrong, considering how much it continues to hurt and how much I've been pampering it.
Anyway, in the meantime I've still been training for a half marathon. It sounds like there is a strong possibility the Salt Lake City marathon isn't happening this year, due to recent turmoil with finances, so I'm trying to find a race I can still train for. The Ogden Marathon has been sold out for some time, but they hold regular drawings for people who donate to their various charities. I went and donated to one of the Goal Foundation's parter organizations this week's, so perhaps, with a little luck, I can win a spot and register in the Ogden half. Here's hoping.

Today I did a nice easy 45 minutes on the bike, followed by some light weight lifting and did some serious stretching on my shoulder in the sauna. I did my 6-mile run on Monday, although I initially wanted to do it last Saturday. I'm still on for my first 7-mile run this weekend, though.

Total distance: 12.4 miles cycling

First long training run tomorrow

I'm trying a training regimen that I read online in preparation for April's half marathon. Here's how it kind of goes.

Monday: 3-mile run, 30 minutes cross training (cycling, swimming, etc.)
Tuesday: 60 minutes cross training, weights
Wednesday: 3-mile run, 30 minutes cross training
Thursday: 30-60 minutes cross training, weights
Friday: Off/rest
Saturday: 6-mile run
Sunday: Off/rest

You can mix up the days as you feel, but every two weeks the distances increase. So, next week, the short runs will be 3.5 miles, the cross trainings will be 5-10 minutes longer and the weekend long run will be 7 miles. I've budgeted out the weeks before the half marathon so I'm up to 12 miles the week before the race. Hopefully that will be enough and I'm not doing too much too fast.

Anyway, I did my second 3-mile run yesterday along with 30 minutes on the bike. Obviously, behind schedule, instead of taking today off I did 40 minutes of cycling along with some weight lifting. Tomorrow I will run six miles on the indoor track, which I have found to be much less strenuous and painful on my knees and feet than the treadmill. Jen will be with me, so perhaps that will give me extra motivation to push it hard.

Total distance: 9.6 miles cycling

Kids and weight rooms don't mix

I remember lifting weights when I was younger, but I don't think I ever started doing it until I was in my teens. To be honest, I don't think kids should ever be using heavy weights until they are a bit older. For example, today at the gym there were a bunch of kids anywhere from 8-14 in the weight room. This is probably my biggest pet peeve when I work out. They don't know what they are doing, they screw around, they are noisy and they often are using the precious few machines at the rec center when I want to use them.

I don't know what it is that makes them do it, but it seems like they insist on using every single machine in the cardio/weight room for a couple of minutes each, before their attention spans lapse and they move on to the next one. On several occasions I've seen kids almost get hurt because they aren't using machines the right way and its just a matter of time before one of them breaks some of the equipment. I don't know if I should be pissed off at the parents who are at the gym and not supervising their children or if I should blame the rec center staff for not booting these little shits out.

I'm glad to get that off my chest. It's just a matter of time before I smack one of 'em. Anyway, I ran three miles on the track before snagging a bike for 30 minutes after. Good start to the week.

Total distance: 3 miles running, 7.25 miles cycling

Preemptive strike for some afternoon Sizzler

Today is my mom's birthday and Jen and I were planning on taking her and my nephew, Carter to lunch. I slept in and called my mom when I woke up to find out when we were going and it gave me just over an hour to go to the gym and squeeze in a small workout.

The tiny indoor track at the Roy Rec Center

When I got there, for the second-straight time my favorite bike was available. Being strapped for time, I hopped right on and went to it. Once I hit 10.5 miles after about 35 minutes, I figured I had enough time get in a short run, as well. The treadmills were all in use, but since they have been hurting my feet lately anyway, I decided to use the Roy Rec Center's indoor track. It's a very small track, requiring 19 laps for just one mile, but it worked for the time being. I don't know if I'd be able to train on it for long runs, but I suppose it's too damn cold outside right now, so I don't really have much of a choice.

I did one quick mile and had just enough time to get home and shower before my mom arrived. She chose Sizzler and it was indeed tasty. No guilt either, thanks to my trip to the gym. Huzzah!!

Total distance: 10.5 miles cycling, 1 mile running

Zack Fisher-friendly blog

This one's for you Zack. Just like you asked for.

Today was a normal day at the gym. Did some running, cycling and swimming (kicks).

Nothing new or interesting to report.

Total distance: 3.2 miles running, 4 miles cycling, 700 yards swimming (kick)