Year End..

Well it's just about that time to put the wraps on 2008. As look back on things it was huge year for me in many ways, physically and personally. Of course the biggest was completing Ironman Coeur d'Alene back in June. A lot of work went into that and although I had a fantastic race day and recovered quickly, I feel my training could have been a little better on my part. (which is what I will take to next years Ironman Cozumel)

The last couple of weeks have been pretty good and getting some running done has seem to work out, even with Christmas thrown in there. Now I have a set plan and I am back at it to start the year off strong!

Along with that I did get a few things for Christmas to help out in the training department and I hear there is more on the way (CoachLiz). I look forward to working and training this spring and getting things set up for the start of IM Training, it will be tough but hey, no one ever said IM Training was easy!!!

Everyone have a great New Years, Be Safe and I'll see ya in 2009!!!

rockon`

Running Zone

I remember yesterday as I was running, when I hit that certain stride, that certain HR and that certain rhythm, you all know what I'm talking about. When you're totally in the running zone and you feel as if you could run forever. When you don't even realize that you are running anymore and you are thinking about other things and enjoying just being outdoors. When I hit that zone I remembered that it takes work to get to that zone, that you have to work to get into that zone and when you reach it, it's self fulling.

I actually missed that part of training and it's good to have those feelings and memories come back. Not only that it was my first 8 mile run about 5 months! Let's see, I ran a 1/2 marathon back in August and that was without too much training coming off of Ironman in June but it was about 5-6 weeks so I was basically still lucky to hold my training base.

These days the running base is simply nill which means it's time to get it going again and things have been working well. Not only with my continuous running for a couple weeks now and my long run of 8 miles means that I can work on some longer week runs. Also in all this run training I am also back to the weights, core training and even other cross training using the elliptical trainer to burn come extra calories. I have put on a few extra pounds so that doesn't help my running speed but I know that will come back over continuous training so I'm not too worried about.

I am looking forward to this Christmas week and next weekend for a couple of extra days off from work.

rockon'

Sweet!!. No wait, Bitter and Sweet!

On Sunday I was surfing around on the computer and came across some triathlon events listed here in California. As I was checking them out, I noticed the banner for Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon in San Francisco, June 14, 2009. I clicked on the banner and was taken to the home page. I read all the stuff and links and pull downs. When I got to the Registration tab I clicked on it and it said it was a Lottery drawing. I really didn't know it was a lottery type race but thought, what the hell. I filled out my information and clicked the submit button. It then said that the first drawing would be Monday, Dec. 15th and that results would be posted on Tuesday Dec. 16th. and the following:

"Applicants will be entered into each of the different pools that they are eligible for: The first drawing will be for triathletes who have competed in 5 or more years at the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon. Those not selected will be added to the drawing for triathletes who have competed in 3 or more years at the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon. Those not selected will be added to the regular random drawing for triathletes who have not completed at least 3 Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon. There will be special random drawing of one male and one female triathlete from each of the 50 states. There will be an international drawing for those triathletes who presently live outside the United States. All random drawing entries"

After the first drawing there is a second drawing in Feb. for anyone not picked (obviously). Anyway, I thought whatever, like I will get in based on the above criteria, so we shall see what happens but it would be cool to win!

Today in my email:

2009 Escape from Alcatraz- Random Drawing Winner!

Congratulations JOHN VIGIL! You are one of the exceptional triathletes that has been selected as a Random Drawing Winner for the 2009 Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon. As a Random Drawing Winner, you receive a slot in the 2009 Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon to be held in San Francisco on June 14, 2009. You have until January 9, 2009 at 11:59 pm to register for the race and pay your registration fee. Your slot is non-transferable and will be void on January 10th. We recommend that you register right away to make sure that you are able to complete the process, don’t wait until January 9.

On June 14, you will get to jump off a perfectly good boat into the frigid water of the San Francisco Bay, swim with 2000 of your best friends from Alcatraz to Little Marina Green. You will climb out of the water and run (with or without shoes) one half mile to the transition area, jump on your bike and ride 18 miles (most people say that it is all up hill) and then run 8 miles under the Golden Gate Bridge, through the sands of Baker Beach, up the infamous sand ladder and back to Marina Green to the finish line. What a great way to spend the day!

Now as excited I was like, hell yea! Score!!! so I clicked the registration link and all of a sudden every ounce of excitement got sucked out and I slumped over. $400 registration fee! Are you freakn' kidding me? Nope they are not kidding. Now I must say that when I signed up on Sunday for the lotto entry I did not know it was $400. Come on! That's damn near an M-dot fee. I thought maybe $250 but $400.

After considering the options and yes, weighing in the fact that I won a lottery slot and may never win again, it is just crazy for me to pay $400 at this time for this race, so now my excitement of just winning the slot becomes BITTER SWEET! Would I do it if I wasn't doing Cozumel, probably without a doubt. It's close, I could drive up and it would be cool to join the ranks of Bigun himself, although I am not sure I could get the Buzz Light Year look alike pic like him, but it would be cool.

For the time I will enjoy the thought of winning a slot and hope that some day it will come around again and in the mean time continue to train on. As far as that goes, things are finally moving along and I have things working. I will be getting with my new swim coach on Jan 3rd and am excited to kick off the new year with some awesome hard grueling workouts to come.

rockon`

Smooth South Paw.

The week is going good. Monday was a nice 3 mile run and although it seemed tough at first I just kept going. On Tuesday I was not sore any thing so I decided it I would run about 2 miles outside around the neighborhood and then head to the treadmill for some repeats.

It was weird at first running from outside to treadmill but I got used to it and was focusing on my times and working the machine. I ran 6 x 400's and was gassed by the 5th! Once finished I could feel my legs heavy and tired.

Today, I hit the weights and some elliptical trainer and after about an hour I was ready to be finished. Then I had this amazing idea to use this waxing product on my arms that I bought about 2 months ago.

I being with the left arm and everything is going good, super sticky of course and not so fun feeling when I have to rip the hair off myself (much better to pay to have this done as I ususally do but hey the kit was on sale for $5.) I quickly notice that I am going to run out of the rabid cloth they gave me in the kit and am left thinking Shit! But I am half way done with my left arm so I finish up and sure enough, No more Rabid cloths. I now have one nice smooth South Paw and Hairy right arm. Kind of funny really. Oh well, I will pick some more rabid cloths up tomorrow.

I have been attempting to wake up at 4am (i'm usually up by 4:45am) and head down to do some cardio but every time the alarm goes off at 4am I hit the snooze and dont wake up till 5:10am! then I am running late! Tonight I will set 2 alarms just in case b/c I want to head down and 20-30 mins on the elliptical again.

rockon'

Who is that..

Hi everyone. Yes, I am still alive.. in some aspects..

The other day I heard this voice...

JTVoice: Hey JT, are you ever going to train again? Cuz I feel like crap these days and somethings not right..

JT: What.. who is that? GOD? Forumalic.. is that you calling me.. Hello..????

JTV: No silly, it's me, I'm right here. Just look. See. Right here....

JT: Hey! I see you! Where did you come from? How are you? wait.. Why are you talking to me?

JTV: Listen JT, all that is not important right now. If you must know, I have been here the whole time. Watching, listening, seeing, sleeping, resting. Everything you do, I DO. or more lately Everything YOU DON'T DO, I DON'T Do. And I have been wondering when are things going to change because we're putting weight on here and it's only going to make you slower than you already are?

JT: HEY!! OK, well, I know I have been saying I am going to change things but humm.. well.. Yeah, Your Right! It's time.

JVT: So what's the plan? Any thoughts?

JT: Yeah, I am thinking that Ironman Cozumel is something we need to do. And in training for that I need to work on losing that extra weight and getting overall faster. Which means I need to start now! Let's start today! Let's do it. I remember when training was fun and I liked it, come to think of I miss it. It's time! I want to do it now and enjoy it then we can start working toward some shorter run events and 1/2 marathons and full marathons. So this is it, we Start today!! No matter what. Things are changing now.

JVT: Yes! I like the plan and I like that you are thinking straight again. You were beginning to worry me there. I mean I understand a short break but come on! not months! We can't and will not do that again, especially if we are going to do Ironman Cozumel. Besides, don't you remember that a certain someone is coming after your time and when he gets it you will have to redeem it in Cozumel. So we start today! I'll be watching and taking notes so no slacking

JT: Sounds great.

rockon`