I heart OJ

Here's Landers on last weekend's ride, having a ball. Might I add, that's some pretty good photog work over the shoulder...

This week has been a really odd one. When I began my pursuit of getting healthy and training, I could never understand how someone would prioritize work over their health, and skip a workout because work was too consuming. Until this week. I've never had a job that I truly cared about until now, and not once, but twice did I skip a workout because I got caught at work too late. It was a really tough decision to make, but maybe it's partly my body telling me that it's okay to take a break. I decided that this weekend was one to catch up and get some solid workouts in.

We spent the night at my mom's house last night and had a really relaxed morning with some coffee, eggs, bacon, and strawberries. I haven't had OJ for a while, and had some as well. I went for a good run when I got home, and I'm amazed at the energy I had. I think the fruit and juice were really welcomed by my body and were a great fuel source. I've been gluten free for about a month, and with that have reduced my carb intake. Moving forward, I'm really going to experiment with fruit and alternative carb sources for fuel, but also trying some protein fueling to see how I do.

Anyway, the run was great, blue bird skies and a good breeze to keep me cool. There is a good hill on the route I ran today, and it's a good barometer of my fitness levels. I didn't dominate the thing today, but I definitely wasn't sucking wind too bad when I got to the top, so I'm pleased with the fitness level on the last of February. I'm surely ahead of where I was at this point last year, and I'm going to keep hammering away to make sure I have a great summer. So today was about a 5 mile run in about 35 minutes, so roughly 7 minute miles with some rolling hills. Me likey.

Off to have a glass of wine, and get some rest. I have a big ride planned tomorrow, I'm pumped to get on the bike again. Last weekend was a good teaser for spring and summer.

E

Been a while!

Well, it's been a while since I've been on here to post! Work has been killing me, so it's taken everything in me to get out there and workout, which I've done. At the very least, I've been trying to get out for at least 3 miles at night, or get to the gym for a lift. I have been working though. And that's the important thing.

We spent the weekend in Steamboat. Our friends have access to a 2,000 acre ranch in the middle-of-nowhere Steamboat. It is about a 45 minute snow shoe from the parking area, and we snow shoe-d back and had a wonderful time with no TV, Radio, Internet, and Cell Phones. We learned cribbage and drank wine, and had crab legs. It was absolutely wonderful.

The snow shoeing is a fantastic workout, and I'll get some pics up ASAP!!!

If you get a chance, head over and throw some workout love to my buddy Mike: http://www.livestrong.com/profile/keanems/

E

Mid-Winter Run

It's been really warm lately, and I've been loving it. Once the holiday's are done, I usually start to get a little bit ready for spring, but football usually holds me over. I can cook and watch football all winter long, especially if it is cold and snowy out. Making a nice stew when it's dumping snow makes me happier than Barry Bonds at Balco. But once the football ends, I'm ready for baseball, triathlons, and BBQ's. So the nice little warm spell we've been having has been fantastic.

I got out for a quick run this evening. The other nice part is that it's been light out until about 5:30pm, which allows me to leave work about 4:30 and still have enough daylight to get a run in. Not riding during the week yet, but I'm thinking by mid-March, I'll have enough daylight to get out and spin the legs. But until then, the rides will be on the weekend, and I'll lift, swim, and run during the week. The run was fast and easy, and really refreshing to get out and move after a stressful day at the office. It was more stress relief than a workout, but I'm always in a much better mood after a quick run.

I got a great swim in last night, and it's amazing to me how I don't really feel fit, like truly in shape, until I start hitting the pool. Maybe it's the having to take off my shirt and wear spandex in front of a gallery of treadmilling observers (our pool is lined with windows, and on the other side are all the treadmills, the only thing they can see while running is the pool; talk about pressure!). But I usually combine swimming with some core work, and I feel like a true athlete when I start back to the pool again. I'm usually most burned out on swimming by the end of the summer, so it usually takes until mid-January again until I'll get back in the pool on a consistent basis.

Well, I'm going to finish my wine, go read a bit of the new Inside Triathlon mag, and hit the hay early. G'night mates.

E