February Round Up

So I've slowly (maybe?) started to figure shit out. Possibly. 

Onward!

Swimming: 5088.72m (3.16 mi)

Cycling: 45.17 mi

Running: 30.58 mi

Lifting: 17 sessions (6:49)

Other: two hikes (:53), one session hockey (stick/puck)(:50), one walk (:30), one session yoga (:10)

February started out okay with a trip to Tucson - I got in a gorgeous swim (yard pool, which is why the numbers are wacky), a couple hikes, a hilly run ... and then I got back and who knows what happened. Shitty weather and February happened. I don't even know.

I have been able to salvage some of the month (until I did something stupid but we'll get to that).

Swimming got somewhat consistent the last week or so. I'm aiming for twice a week. Nothing much, but enough to keep the memory.

Cycling ... has been interesting. I would love to get out on the gravel, but it really hasn't been warm (or dry) enough for that. And I've got a weird pesky flat on the rear so there's probably something in there. I don't know. And the trainer ... is hard. Especially when there's nothing concrete on the schedule. I may do a tri in June (and definitely planning on the local one in September), but I haven't registered yet.

Running ... well, I officially signed up for the Salt Lake City half in late April. I know some Skirt people coming out to run it, so I figured why not? From when I registered, it gave me 10 weeks for a plan, so I got that all sorted. And my long run last week was actually meditative, something that hasn't happened for me in a long while.

I did a sculpt challenge in my new MadFit app for two weeks - which meant I was doing some sort of strength every day - but you know what? It felt good and I think it was a great kickstart for me. Now that it's over I need to get more going.

The other was nice. Not enough stretching (for sure), but the hiking in the desert was glorious. Stick/puck was fun ... except I fell hard on my tailbone (going 1-on-1 with B and didn't notice some kid and tripped over them and yeah). 

The tailbone has made it hard to do much. My last few runs have not been pretty since the jarring brings discomfort and alters my stride. I'm still trying, but yeah.

March I'm hoping to get both my bikes in for some work. We've already skied once and are hoping to get a few more days in there as well. I'm hoping for the tailbone to heal so I can get back on track with running. I'm mostly hoping to just be able to put in the damn work.

January Round Up

I would love it if I could figure my shit out.

Swimming: 2600m (1.62 mi)
Cycling: 51.67 mi
Running: 21.17 mi
Lifting: 11 sessions (4:19)
Other: two sessions skiing (2:45), two walks (4:30), three sessions yoga (:32)

It took a few weeks in, but I finally started to loosely plan my shit. Swimming has been tough - especially since half the time I go I swear the pool is closed. I think it's a sign I need to start checking out the other VASA locations to see how their pools are so I can have a backup option. Or just call ahead.

Cycling is an interesting thing right now. I actually did a specific trainer workout (oh good ol' Coach Troy) and holy eff did it highlight why my cycling was so shit last year. That being said, I only did the one and the rest of my rides weren't nearly as intense. I did get out once on the gravel and if it breaches 40 degrees again (or higher, god forbid), I may try again.

Running ... is hit or miss. I'm hating winter and cold this year a lot and the snow can stop any time now. 

I finally started up with my new app in terms of strength workouts and while it's not heavy weights (something I know I'm going to have to get into sooner rather than later), it is kicking my butt some, so I think that's a good thing. We'll see. I may do one of the actual challenges a little later this month when I know I'm not traveling anywhere and I can actually keep up with it.

Skiing is starting to get marginally better around here - finally found a resort we like. The walks were around Belgium (oh yeah we went to Brussels/Bruges) and the stretching has been really nice - need to keep up with that and probably do it more.

Mostly ... I'm toeing lines of not liking the way I look, not being able to muster up energy for anything, and trying deeply not to stress about it all because I know it makes it worse. February is usually a rough month (for all of us), and I'm hoping a few days in the desert to start it off might help things out a little.

2023 Goals

Ha, 2023.

We're a week in and I'm still not working off of a plan.

I am not signed up yet for any races. I'm sure that I want to race the local triathlon that takes place down the street from my house, but I haven't registered yet since I have no idea what distance I want to do yet.

(Part of me still wonders if I even want to race this year, but I also know I need something on the schedule to work towards.)

I have a loose 2024 goal (finally do a standalone marathon) and I'll probably return to the 140.6 distance in 2025, but 2023? Who the hell knows?

I guess my main priority for this year is to get BACK in shape and really take hold of my health as I turn 40 this year. I'm not doing all that terribly, given the state of the average American, but I know I can do so much better.

So there. I guess my goal is that. Turn 40 and become a person that won't need to rely on the system in 5, 10, 20, 30 years.

December and 2022 Round Up

... as you can probably surmise, 2022 wasn't the easiest year for me. But first, December ...

Swimming: 3700m (2.3 mi)
Cycling: 37.47 mi
Running: 23.71 mi
Lifting: 11 sessions (3:46)
Other: three sessions ice skating (1:23), one session erg (rower) (15:01), three sessions skiing (5:10), two walks (3:45)

December started off really well, but as it usually goes, the holidays hit and I swear stress floats in whether you like it or not. As a result, the last two weeks ended up being straight survival mode.

One monthly highlight was probably finally checking out a few of the ski resorts here (not my Winter Park, but what is), and skiing in hella powder, realizing that skiing the pow is a skill, and not one that I have. The other was definitely getting back on skates again and realizing just how much I have missed that. Hockey is a thing that needs to come back into both our lives.

As for the year ... I did not hit either of my stated goals. While I successfully finished IMLP, I do not believe I successfully trained for IMLP (although, if I finished, does that automatically I did?). I also definitely did NOT hit my time goal of 15:15. Moving during an IM is not something I would ever suggest to someone unless they a.) are way more type-A than I; and b.) have way more base fitness than I.

The main goal - finish out the year healthy and happy while having fun - is also kind of a miss. I'm healthy in the sense that I'm not injured, but I'm not happy in my physical body. Also "fun" is a word that's been missing from the vocabulary for quite some time now.

Swimming was a down year (if I miss 100k, it's a down year). Cycling was meh, and running was average.

Really, this was just one of the hardest years I've had, personally, mentally, emotionally, and athletically, and I'm just happy to have survived it.

November Round Up

So, as I hoped it would at the end of October, the November numbers do look better. Onward!

Swimming: 4100m (2.55mi)
Cycling: 37.96 mi
Running: 27.72 mi
Strength: eight sessions (3:13)
Other: one walk (2:30)

I actually started to get back into the pool and somewhat regularly. I didn't give myself any actual planned swims or distance to hit (which means I counted UP in my swims for the first time in many years). I had some deep, deep swim nausea, but I think I mostly worked my way out of that by the end of the month.

The bike has mostly been the trainer (with one short exception at the beginning of the month where we rode the gravel bikes to drop off our ballots). It's been a bit of a struggle there, but again, I'm trying to get on consistently.

Running is actually getting a little better. I had my first run where I didn't walk during it in who knows how long ... and I'm getting a bit better at running MORE before I need to walk. The wind and the cold like to have something to say about that, but it's a nice thing to see, regardless. Mileage is still staying pretty low though (obviously).

Lifting is always kind of a struggle, but by the end of the month, I researched some skiing-specific lifts and have been incorporating that in.

Only the one (logged) walk, and that was thanks to exploring a lot of Old Town Scottsdale when I joined the hubs on a layover.

I have a bit more structure planned out for December - mileage still isn't getting that high (five, maybe, as the longest run), but actual times for the trainer as opposed to AMAP (as much as possible). Same thing with the pool (in distances). And I've got the lifting plan that I'm continuing on with through the end of the month. Other should hopefully gain more things as ski season is definitely here in Utah and B has been dying to get up there.

Still attempting to think of goals for the next year, but I'm still having a bit of a struggle - particularly when it comes to a race season. I think I want one, but I'm just not sure how to go about it.

October Round Up

Oh hi, October recap. If you read my last post on the state of the T, I'm sure you have an idea of what's ahead. That is, not much.

Swimming: 0m (0mi)
Cycling: 24.88mi
Running: 9.63 mi
Strength: three sessions (1:18)
Other: five hikes (5:00), four walks (2:50)

Can I get in a pool? Apparently the answer is no. 

I don't think I got on my gravel bike at all (although we can partially blame B for being out of town a lot for that ... and for me traveling with him on a chunk of his off days ... and YES I know I can get out by myself but). The fact that I am getting on the trainer again, however, is a good thing.

Running ... urgh. I don't know what's going on there.

Super disappointing with my lack of strength. That needs to NOT be a trend moving forward.

The hikes were great. I decided to enjoy leaf peeping to its fullest extent and tromp around among the leaves and I regret none of it. Some of it was also among cactus in Tucson which is also soul-filling. The walks were good, too.

I'm hoping to slowly ease my way back into something in November - and I do mean slowly ease, as I caught some gross cold at the end of October that I'm still recovering from - and hopefully the next monthly round up will look a little bit better. Hopefully.

State of the T

I probably should wait until the October recap for this, but meh. 

It's been just about three months from Lake Placid, and I am lost.

I have been out hiking and I've enjoyed it, but anything else? It's so hard. Just mentally impossible.

I'm in my favorite running season, and I can't be bothered to get out the door to run. Or to go ride. And swimming? Pfffffft. Attempting to do a lift up in our loft is almost as bad.

(and lifting at the gym? gym anxiety for lifting weights hit some time a few years ago (really, i blame crossfit) and it's never really left. so that's straight out.)

It's not that I don't want to move. It's just that there's a disconnect. It might be similar to what I dealt with through most of this year. Maybe there's still a frayed wire thanks to the 'rona (from one year ago)(i'm still dealing with a bit of a brain fog - words are hard - which sucks for someone who was always halfway decent with them) that's been making things hard. Maybe the waffling of the past two years did indeed break my brain.

Whatever it is, it's rough. 

The state of the T, as it is, is mostly idleness. I'd rather it not be, but energy is at a premium. 

Like from late last year/earlier this year, I'd almost say it's like I was depressed except mentally, I'm not. But maybe my physical body is.

All I can do is my best each day, and hopefully that'll start involving a bit more movement than not.