081310 and the rest of the weekend

Goals: 8 mile run, make up speedwork run or long bike ride if possible.

Results: AM- 2.5 mile run in 33 minutes, PM 3 mile run in 33 minutes

Diet Setbacks- I ate like a pig one meal everyday all weekend, but ate well the rest of each day.

Thoughts: This was a busy weekend, to the point that I didn't get the chance to write about this until now.
Friday morning I was up and outside at  to make up my long run. I only ran 2.47 miles, the humidity was unbearable! Even with two water bottles it seriously hindered my performance. After work I tired it again, although i was moving at a better pace I couldn't last with the heat.

Saturday was a busy day full of errands and such. So busy I do not remember most of it. What I do remember is that I drove to Charlotte to the REI and bought my new Garmin Forerunner 305. I am excited for my new training tool. I really wanted it for the pace alarm, I hope it meets my expectations.

Sunday was a day full of SCUBA diving drills for my rescue diver certification. I got to Raleigh early and packed my running shoes so I thought I would bag a run while I waited on the rest of the class. I tried out my new toy, I can't figure out how to turn on the pace alarm, but did set it for an interval run. I ran 1 minute with 1 minute rest, 5 times. I ended up with just under 2 miles and ran all my 1 minute repeats at a sub 7 minute mile pace. I did not know I could move that fast. It felt good. The down side of the day was that I was told that I needed to work on my breath holding for diving (actually for diving emergencies). I was told to do intervals on a treadmill and hold my breath while running, work up to being able to hold my breath for 1 minute while running. ONE MORE THING TO ADD TO MY TRAINING!

Anyhow, back to work. If anyone has any tips or tricks for the forerunner please share! And pick out some socks for me if you haven't http://fatlete.blogspot.com/2010/08/just-for-fun.html .

081210

NOTE: PLEASE GO TO YESTERDAYS POST AND VOTE ON WHAT SOCKS I SHOULD REWARD MYSELF WITH......Just for Fun

Goals: 8 mile LSD run, eat healthy

Results: FUBAR

Diet Setbacks: 1 bite of a brownie

Thoughts: it has been another off day. It was so hot today that I decided to clean our spare bedroom while I waited for it to cool off.  This room has been cleaned 2 other times since we moved in, but every time the day after I get it done we fill it full of something we need to store (boxes, tools, lumber, furniture, etc). This time it took me two hours to get it cleaner, but it still has some remodeling stuff in it, some boxes we need to sort through, and all of our office stuff. I don't want to unpack the office stuff yet because I want to paint and packing it up again seems moot.

By the time I had moved everything out organized, rearranged furniture, and put stuff in the attic for storage I realized it was a little too dark for me to begin a run of that length.

The theme for the week had been adapt and overcome, after assessing changes in my training schedule twice already this week, now I have to do it again. My new goal is to get up and run at 0500 tomorrow morning. I will lay my clothes out before bed in order to make sure it happens. I am almost getting annoyed from changing things so much this week.

Just for Fun

I am looking forward to picking out a new pair or two of socks soon. I prefer Sock Guy socks for cycling and today I was bored at work so I was e-window shopping looking for my next pair or two. Here are a few of my favorites. Please give me your opinions on which ones I should get, I may decide to use reader votes as the basis for my purchase.........

Because after studying in the UK twice, it became my second favorite place in the world.

If you saw the way I ride my mtb you think I was a crash test dummy.

Because it's FUBAR!!

I love mud!

For the luck of the Irish

No explanation needed

Just for fun

A- I'm a diver B- These are fun

I love Apes...something to do with my fraternity

Who doesn't like ta-ta's?

Just because

Great Charity and part of the purchase price is donated back. I hope to race in the tough mudder in TX this winter in support of it.

All pictures and even more socks at http://www.sockguy.com/

081110

Goals: get back in my routine, 800m swim, eat healthy

Results: 800m swim with stroke drills in about 20 minutes, 7 mile ride in 33 minutes

Diet Setbacks: A few pieces of brownie...but I'm ok with it

Thoughts: Decent day eating- eggs, low fat yogurt, salad, and special K, had about 3 pieces of brownie but given my activity level I think it was ok.

Weird day overall, I was going to take a trip to Raleigh to begin my rescue Diver course, this involved taking a half day from work. I got in and a supervisor asked why I was there, apparently I requested the entire day off. I worked the half day but a coworker created drama that took up 3 of the 4 hours I was there. I had a few errands to run afterwards so while I was out I called the Chief of my rescue squad to find out what time we were leaving. He said that the other guy coming us wanted to leave at 4:15, this meant that I would need to leave right that minute. My Chief told me that the instructor hadn't put the class on his calendar and wasn't even going to be there. He then told me not to worry about wasting my time with the trip.

Now what to do? I am off work, do I go back? Work is 30 minutes away, so no! Now I have time to finish my errands/yard work before CB's has her church group over for Bible study/garden party and after that I'll go for a long ride. 90% done with my yard work she tells me the bible study has been cancelled.......now all that extra work in unecessary.

Work out time, YEAH BOY!! Got in my 800m swim mixing in a different stoke drill every 100 meters. I changed and went for my long ride, I wanted to avoid the hills of my normal route so I decided on an out and back a flatter way 5 miles in and I get stuck in traffic because they are paving the road. New problem, I don't know this side of town and don't really know how to detour, only option is take the one turn I know will take me home. turned the 15 mile ride into 7 miles. I got home and and needed to reassess my training calendar for the week. Friday is a brick workout. I decided I will do my long ride Friday and start my bricks next week. I think this change is a good decision, I can still get in all my workouts, and this will allow me to readjust this week, after being off last week, and be back in my groove when I begin bricks. Seems like a WIN-WIN to me!

I'm Back!!

After over a week I am back at last. I got home and to bed about 0300 Monday morning and back to work at 1100am the same day. I am still not caught up on my rest.

I spent from 08/01/10 until 08/08/10 in Guatemala City teaching rescue and fire fight skill to the Guatemalan Army Rescate (rescue), Fire fighters, and USAR.  Guatemala is a very poor country that receives most of its aid from volunteers and missionaries. Being faced with storms from the gulf and pacific, volcanoes, earthquakes, sinkholes, and floods on top of normal traffic and other emergencies it is important they have the skills to respond. We trained them in Helicopter rescue, rope rescue, fire fighting, and vehicle stabilization/extrication. In addition to the training we also donated a stocked fire truck and ambulance, this will be coupled with the stocked rescue truck we donated last year. I participated as member of my rescue squad- Rescue, Extrication, and delivery Specialists or better known as the REDS Team and the trip was arranged my the organization Paramedics for Children.

Picked up at the airport by the army in a Deuce and a half truck

The 11 of us stayed in a bay styled barracks. This was hard for me because I am on the verge of being a neat freak, and I I don't get along with other men.

Don't let the shower fool you, no hot water (it was about 50 degrees), no water pressure, and if someone flushes or turns on a sink it stops.

The Entire Team and Soldier 2nd Class Douglas Godoy (our handler/gopher)

Our student, some of the hardest working, well motivated people I have ever met, I will miss a lot of them

I got traveler's stomach the second night and was up all night, I think I am considering barfing right here.

I taught stabilization. this is the skills needed to keep a car safe so the extrication team can cut aways the doors and roof as well as how to lift a car to free victims trapped under it. We had a new group everyday, but by the last day you could tell they were tired.

Me and the VP of Paramedics for Children and one of the next Congresswomen for Guatemala

Up to six armed soldiers went with us everywhere we went, usually with atleast two plain clothed soldiers as well. When I say everywhere I mean, to the an estate we visited in the mountains, the Presidential Palace, Antigua, Wal-Mart, and Hooters

We were surprised on the last day and taken to one of the palaces where a ceremony was held awarding us the title of Ambassador of Peace to Guatemala. We were told this is not an award usually given to outsiders.

By the end of the trip I was ready to get home, ready assault all of my team mates but one (hows that for a peace ambassador), and sick of the black beans we ate for at least two meals a day. I did however, enjoy not eating no processed foods for the week, except for Hooter.

Now that I am trying to get into my routine, I am looking towards my tri in October as my motivation to train. I also am supposed to have a 5k Friday night, but we will see if I feel rested enough. I skipped my long ride Monday and rested, I hope to make it up Saturday, I got in some stoke golf in the pol yesterday for 400m, and ran a slow 2.1 miles. It was slow but did not feel hard at all. Nice run to start back with. I am taking a half day at work today in order to drive to Raleigh to begin my PADI Rescue Diver course. I am going to try to get in a half mile swim before I leave though.

I am trying to find my motivation at work and don't feel like doing anything. Today I will finish catching up, I could have had everything done Monday but I have been taking easy.

Pre-trip post

This is the post fromt he day I left for Guate, Hopefully, I am back to work now and hopefully I can get in a workout tonight and an update post on my trip.

Goals: make it through the day and work out if possible get in a workout.


Exhausted musings: the last few days have been crazy. Its nuts how much extra work I have to do just to take a week off. It almost makes me want to stay. Or not!
I have had to work sun up until after sun down. Wednesday I had a 8 mile ride planned. No go, but I was able to get half the lawn mowed. 1.8 miles per my gps. Thursday I had a 600m swim planned in the am and 6 mile run with a tempo workout. I did 4 mile bike ride in the am and packed. Friday, I had a 8 mile lsd run. I had limited time so I decided to run 4 miles with some 400m repeats. Total time boiled down to the slowest mile paces I have ever ran. I also had a few more workout mixed in, not my plan but I was able to get something in.

This is the first time I have had time to sit down and blog, I am in the air heading to atlanta. I scheduled this week as my rest week, hopefully I will get a few runs in with the Guatemala army. I am not worried about weight this week because I have no control over anything! Its hard for me to relinquish control.

Any how, I look forward to reading up on how everyone is doing when I get back. I hope everyone has safe weeks with their families. Good training and even better races!

Guatamala

Currently in Guatamala. Just paid for 5 minutes internet to write my wife, staying on a military base so internest is hard to come by. Wrote a post the day before I left summing up my last few days prior to the trip and my feeling about going.

Dont Know whre it went.

Look forward to reading everyones blogs on the 9th when I return.

I hope everyone stays safe with there families, has good training, and better races.

Adios mu chachos!!