The New Year's "Resolutionists" ....

This was posted on the BeginnerTriathlete.com website by marmadaddy and I thought you fellow gym rats would appreciate it:

As happens every year around this time, over the next few days we should
start to see posts from people making observations about their gyms,
particularly how crowded they are with new people. A couple of years back I
posted the following in response to some of those observations. It has become
something of a tradition that I re-post it in order to add a little perspective
to what will surely be stressful and inconvenient in the coming weeks for many
of us. We're endurance athletes. We train all year not only outside, but also at the gym and the pool. We can expect some serious crowding in both places for
the next few weeks. It happens every year.
Suddenly we have to add 30 minutes
to our scheduled gym time because of the "resolutionists". There are no parking
places. When you do manage to find one and get to the locker room 10 minutes
behind schedule, there aren't any lockers available and the door is blocked by
someone trying to remember the way to the weight room. In there, the machines
you need to use are all occupied by people in new track suits pushing too much
weight with truly horrible form. The bubbler is blocked by someone who is trying
hard not to look totally out of their element. You can't get in the pool because
it's jammed with people using pull buoys on their arms and kickboards as
flotation devices. Half the lanes have people with no goggles and baggy swim
trunks down to their knees who can't swim an entire lap.
The whole freakin'
place is filled with...with...
beginners.
It's one of my favorite sights.
I've never been in a place more full of hope than a gym during the first week of
January. It's a place full of people giving action to their dreams. People who
for that day are making an effort to be fit, to improve themselves, to live a
better quality of life. The effort and courage it takes them to get there that
morning is huge. It certainly exceeds what it takes me. I know where everything
is. I know the pool etiquette. I know what my workout is going to be and how to
use the machines. I'm not the least bit embarrassed to take my shirt off
in the locker room. This is routine for me. These new people will be showing a
lot of courage and determination by going to the gym in the next few weeks and
they'll deserve my respect. They'll get it.
It wasn't that long ago that I
was one of them. During the next few weeks I'll be making an effort to help some
of these people feel a little less uncomfortable. Maybe make eye contact with
some of them, be ready to give a nod or say hello.
Once we're halfway into
February, the crowds will be gone. Parking will be easy. Machines will be
available again. The wait at the pool will go away. We know this. We're
endurance athletes. We know the reward that comes from sticking through the hard
parts.
And from helping others through them.
-----Mike

Week Three, Day Two: 1hr Bike + 30 min Run Sick Day

Last night after the run my nose began to run too. When I woke up this morning I had a sore throat and some minor aches. About 1 pm I was driving down the road and all of a sudden my body felt like it was hit by a truck. By the time I got home I was shivering and could barely muster up the energy to change clothes and collapse into my favorite chair. That is where I have been since. Annie picked up some vitamin C and I have been trying to hydrate like crazy. Not a good day. Hopefully this will be over quick and I can get back to training tomorrow.

Thanks for Reading,

Jeff

Week Three, Day One: 40 min Swim + 40 min Run

I just realized that I have become, "That Guy!" You know the guy you see walking around in speedos and lycra? Yep that is now me. And the best part is I really do not care because the stuff is so darn comfortable!

What got me thinking about this is that I went for my 40 minute run at 7:30 tonight and it was 42 degrees out. I put on my form fitting long sleeve DriFit shirts and then put a yellow tech tee on top of that for the bright color (gotta be vi sable at night!). And without even thinking twice I tossed on the Under Armor running tights. These things are just awesome at keeping you warm while wicking away sweat. So, I am about a 1/2 mile into my run and I come across a neighbor/buddy of mine on the sidewalk. We talk for a few seconds and as I am jogging away he says, "Nice tights!" thinking he is one funny guy .... now Jeff of a year ago would have been embarrassed. Heck, I never would have worn tights a year ago! But tonight I just turned around and said, "Your just jealous I pull this look off so damn well!

Anyways, I did an nice RPE 3 paced run this evening. It was 4.62 miles in 40 minutes. Quick math tells me that is an 8:40 ish pace. Around 4pm today I went to the gym and got in 1500 meters in 40 minutes. I did less drills today and focused on my form and bilateral breathing while swimming moderate paced laps. I am now doing most of my swimming using bilateral breathing. If only I wasn't so slow!

About an hour ago Annie and I found a 1/2 Marathon in Sugarland, TX (about 45 mins from our house) on January 10th and signed up for it. Since she is doing the Higdon marathon training plan anyways this will be good for her long run day. My long run is supposed to be 1 hr 30 mins that week so it works out good for both of us. For me I am planning on running an easy 9 minute pace and using this as a base training day. The idiot in me will want to run a lot harder but I'll have to fight the idiot when the gun sounds. The reason is that I do not want to run a hard pace and then not be able to give my all in the next week's training. If I run hard my body will need some time to recover! I plan on running the Austin 1/2 mary hard and have that built in to my training plan already.

Tomorrow is a 30 minute run and a 1 hour cycle. I have a very early morning scheduled with work so I will probably do the run around 5pm and then hit the bike around 9pm!

Thanks for Reading,

Jeff

p.s. - my fantasy team lost! I am bummed!

Week Two, Day Seven: 1.5 Hr Trainer + Week Two Recap

Week 2 Training Recap:

Planned Training for Week Two:

Swim: 1 hr 40 mins

Bike: 3 hr 15 mins

Run: 2 hr 10 mins

--------------------

Planned Totals: 7:05 hrs

Actual Training for Week Two:

Swim: 40 mins

Bike: 3 hr

Run: 2 hr 20 mins (15.12 miles)

--------------------

Actual Training: 6:00 hrs

After ripping off 1.5 hours on the trainer this morning I decided to look at my training calendar on BeginnerTriathlete.com. I ended up missing two swim workouts this week due to the reduced holiday hours at my gym. The first one was my fault because I completely forgot to change my schedule around on Christmas day, of course the gym wasn't going to be open! But the one I missed on Saturday the gym had reduced hours again. Usually they are open until 10pm but they closed at 6pm yesterday due to the holiday schedule. I will plan better with the New Years week.

Overall I am pleased with the 1/2 Ironman Training program that I am following. Already after two weeks I can tell a difference in my bike performance and stamina. Not to sure with the swimming yet because I have been doing a lot of drills to improve my form. But I am a little concerned with the lack of run miles per week. Before starting this plan I was doing 35-40 miles per week running and this last week I only did 15 miles. Not sure if I should increase the miles myself or just keep following the plan until it calls for an increase. Maybe during my runs if I am feeling good I will just continue running a few extra miles?

Oh, I need a big performance out of the Dallas Defense tonight to win my fantasy football league. Freaking Addai getting pulled in the 2nd Qtr just crushed me and Aaron Rodgers only tossing one TD didn't help either!

Tomorrow is a 40 minute run in the morning and then a 40 minute swim in the evening.

Thanks for Reading,

Jeff

Fantasy Football C-H-A-M-P-I-O-N-S-H-I-P

Here is my Fantasy Team (All Wee-Weed UP) if anyone would like to put some positive mojo on the squad:

QB - Aaron Rodgers
RB - J. Addai
RB - R. Mendenhall
Flex - Greg Jennings
WR - Andre Johnson
WR - Wes Welker
TE - Tony Gonzalez
K - G. Hartley (saints)
DEF - Dallas

This is a Point Per Reception (PPR) league which explains why I am loaded at receiver and TE and not so much at RB. Wes Welker is invaluable in a league like this with all of his catches!

My opponent (Talk is Cheap):

QB - Big Ben
RB - Cedric Benson
RB - Jerome Harrison
Flex - Beanie Wells
WR - A. Boldin
WR - Kevin Walters
TE - Dallas Clark
K - N. Kaeding (Played Fri - 6pts)
DEF - Falcons

As you can see Mike's team is crappy when compared to mine. But he has excellent matchups with his running backs this week and that is making me extremely nervous. His backup QB is Vince Young and I almost talked Mike into starting him on Friday morning. Vince crapped the bed so it would have been awesome. But Mike knows my loyalty to the Steelers and thinks it is funny that his QB is Big Ben.

Super Bowl Champ gets $600, Runner up gets $350. Not a bad take either way but I care more about the title than the money and being able to mention I won our league in every conversation with my friends until next year. You cannot put a price on that!

So all I ask is if you are sitting at home say watching the Packers game and you see Aaron Rodgers drop back. Maybe just scream "Throw it to Jennings!!!" because that is what I will be doing and if a bunch of us scream at the same time maybe Rodgers will hear us ... just maybe!

Thanks for Reading and Go Stillers,

Jeff