21:43/56:10/26:26 City Time

After about a week or so off to rest the foot and celebrate, I am back and focused on my goal. I saw Aquatic Director Mike today which means I have started my focus with the water. Seeing that river this past weekend again, is a bit scary to say the least. I have new goggles that have an anti-fog protectant on them. They work awesome! However, as great as they work, I have been thinking about seeing fish, cars, and possibly a guy who used to owe a guy money at the bottom of the river! Oh well, it will be part of the experience.
The title reflects the results by sport for the person who finished 50th in the 40-44 year old Male group in last year's tri. This morning, I swam that 900M in 22:11. Of course, that is in the pool and not where the fish swim. A 56:10 reflects a split on the bike for 15 miles of just over 15MPH. When I train inside, I average 20MPH for 12-14 miles. The 26:26 is faster than any of my Shiver times by about 3 minutes. So, the moral here is I am not in it to come in first, fiftieth, or even 75th but to finish strong and be called a triathlete. However, every guy has to have a goal. I will try and set marks over the next 3 months to see if I can get in under placing 50th in my age group. Go Big Tone.

They Say the Apple Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree.

The final Shiver went well. 50 degrees, 500 runners, a rather large Big Tone Tri Army present (MacKenzie was my first River Rd high five!), but no Don. He was nursing his dehydrated heel(anyone at bowling night will understand this diagnosis). I didn't see the old shirtless gloved man but that doesn't mean I beat him! I think I edged out the lacrosse team that ran as a group. Although, I think they really didn't care about the fact that there was a clock on the race.
I have had a good Type I factor the last couple of weeks. This Ralph adjustment has really made the difference. Waking up nearer to range is a nice thing. I've had only one low on the treadmill in a month. That's because it was on a day Missy made me count points(I blame everything on Missy, if you haven't noticed...). All the highs and lows and thinking about the day's fuel really are the baseline to the big day. My biggest concern is fueling for all three events back to back. I feel pretty confident. A few days prior with plenty of water, a bagel 2 hours before the gun, and a couple of bags of sports beans will lead me through the river loop, around the park and to the museum and back. I have to admit, the crowd at the corners of the shiver really keep me pumped. I hope there's a corner in the big city for all of them and more!
On a less athletic note, I will be celebrating my birthday this weekend. It's really just another day to me but there happens to be a societal hang up about it. Four decades ago, my mom (pictured at a high point above! Ha ha) unleashed me on the planet. I feel like Saturday is the one third point of my life. I've got so much to do, the triathlon among the things on my list. Besides the beer chugging lady pictured, Missy, my girls, silent Jim, the Northern Exposure, and a few more who know who you are, I want to make sure I have enough time to protect and support all of you and then some. I've done plenty for a living til now, the next two thirds of my life will be spent saving people as a super hero, a nurse, or whatever I can do. Plus, a lifetime isn't enough for me to love you all.
Look around for the chance to say, Go Big Tone.

When is 5 better than 10?

Injuries, excuses, lack of sticking to the plan, Marcy H, Don opening my window of failure, and most of all no real reason to get it done are all the reasons I will be running just the 5K this Sunday. I was hoping to do the loop twice but I think I can only muster enough for the one time. Still, it is supposed to be spectacular for Sunday at the "shiver". 60 degrees and cloudy. Perfect running conditions. I will be playing the part of an athlete Saturday night as well. While I was on my first outside run since the last shiver tonight I was thinking, "What do I have that the old shirtless gloved man doesn't have?" The only thing I could come up with was an extra 20lbs!!!That's ok, we cannot measure our intrinsic success by what others have or can do that we don't have or cannot do. We really should set personal goals for ourselves and work very hard to hit them. Even if it's to just get 3 out of 4 shivers completed in a season. Or maybe it's just to work out 5 out of 7 days for the next 4 weeks. Or maybe it's even simpler, like for every non rainy day for the next 3 months, park at the farthest spot from the door of your work building. Springtime is almost upon us so it is time to renew our zest for exercise. In whatever form it may come. Just set some goal and accomplish it.
March may have come in as a lion but it will be leaving in the form of the "No Excuse" part of my journey. Once Aimee can explain it to me, I will be setting a countdown to the Triathlon on June 27 on the site. It will start 90 days from the gun. I love the hype and pressure of this website. It fuels my fire to be able to tell someone that I completed my first triathlon. An old work friend just wrote that fact about herself to me and I got excited for my opportunity. Please keep the support coming. The hard part is just about upon us. For those of you who read but do not post comments(Lisa...), I understand. For those of you who do, I read every one of them. Sometimes more than once! Thanks. Especially now that the weather is breaking, don't forget, Go Big Tone!
**Marcy H, I poked fun at your sister on FB today so I wanted to even the family ribbing!! Ha ha