Officially Las Vegas!

Well its Official, I am registered for the Las Vegas 1/2 Marathon set to take place on December 10, 2006!

My family and I (and I do mean my family..wife, daughter, brother-sister inlaw, aunt, mother and father inlaw) are all going out to stay with my parents. I hope there house doesn't pop! LOL. Thanks Mom & Dad for letting us all stay there!! Love ya!

And it will be a great day because I will be running the race with my dad who turns a young 60 next month! To run down the center of Las Vegas Blvd with my dad will be totally AWESOME, love ya Dad!

Will continue with more later....

Rockon`

How cycling shoes can make you hurt.

This really only happens to me, right? Got home yesterday and got all my new stuff on the bike and loaded it up for the morning ride. Woke up 4:15am and was out the door to the Loop. Unloaded the bike and sat down on the back of my Murano to put on my cycling shoes and as I was sitting there with one leg up putting my shoe on, WHAMO!! CRAMP! SPASM! to my mid-lower back. Felt like I just got stabbed with a spoon, no really, it did. So now I can't breath and I am trying to stand up to get the cramping to stop knowing that when it does, my back is going to still hurt. Sure enough, I manage to get the spoon outta there and still can't really breath and start walking around to loosen up, oh yea, with 1 cycling shoe on and 1 tennis shoe on. Finally, I am able to get myself together and take off on the bike, riding only 12 miles of the scheduled 15 due to my back started becoming annoying. This also blew the whole swim workout I had planned after riding. OK, so do things like this ever happen to anyone else? Something so simple yet can influx such a great bodily disturbance, frankly, it pisses me off! I mean come on, here I go to the gym and bench, squat, press, curl, and pull on hundreds of pounds of body sculpting iron and I can't sit down, lift my leg up and put a cycling shoe on! What gives? (obviously my back, LOL) As a chiropractor I knew that I spasmed out my back muscles and that it was going to be an all day nuisance and couldn't wait to get to the office to have it worked on (perks). So as I write, the back is better but now stiff and again annoying to sit and stand. But all in all it is a great day. I completed more than 3/4 of my scheduled bike and I was able to play with my new online training schedule at Beginner Triathlete. It's actually pretty cool if you like online stuff like and getting detailed on tracking your workouts and the basic stuff is Free! It really doesn't cost that much for the memberships if you would like more bells and whistle's with your training. Anyway, I have to go get in the massage chair, Boo-Yahh!!! Rockon`

New Toys.

The mail is here, the mail is here, the mail is here!!! Never so excited to get the mail expect when something new is coming for me. Today it was my new little bike cycolocomputer Ascent Delta V Wireless and a Goodie Stasher. My old puter stopped working who knows when because it was some time before I had gotten on my ol`Lotus Tanker. I ordered a simple puter with the basic info on it so although it is not a GPS, tell you your DNA sophistication type I am happy to have it. Tonight, it will be installed along with checking out my rear tire and find out why its rubbing on the rear frame. Also, I said that I got a new goodies bag, it's a little bag that straps to the top tub near the stem and holds goodies! Not sure how it will work but anything might be better than me trying to reach behind me and grab something out of my cycle jersey while maintaining control of the steering, Ok, so I've had some complications with that, LOL. And hey guess what? Tomorrow is cycle and swim day so I gotta get it fixed up. Today was a 6 mile tempo run or maybe it turned into intervals at times but overall it was good and I felt good. Completed my 6 miles in 1hr 7 mins, which is about a minute/mile fast overall for me! This afternoon I can feel my quads a little tight so I know I had a good run. Now I just have to get that HR monitor fixed next week! Rockon`

Slowly moving

Yesterday, was an easy workout day back into running with what I thought was going to be an easy 2 miles. After hitting the pool and talking with OSG I kicked out my 500 yards and was out of the water. I felt good during the swim, much better than last swim session. Once I got up to the treadmill and started jogging, my legs felt like huge logs that did not want to move! I slowed to try walking upbeat to try and warm up a little more but it never really came. I increased the speed and continued on my run. After mile 1 I was still fighting the legs and my HR just kept climbing out of zone, I thought, I must not be recovered from the long humid, hot run on Saturday morning but it was really hot in the gym and knew that was part of the problem. By mile 1.5 I was looking down hill although running a bit faster, my legs still felt like tree trunks. I was sure glad to see mile 2 come around on the read out but was thinking I should goto 2.5 or 3 miles but then reminded myself that it was an Easy scheduled day and I had not swam before running in the past few weeks so that was probably playing into my fatigue. Tuesday morning it was up and early as usual. I got all my bike stuff loaded and was at the loop park and started riding. It was cool out this morning, about 63 degrees, so once I started moving I could feel the wind and it was really starting to wake me up. After 3 loops I noticed that my bike was making this funny sound and started to search where the noise was coming from. Next thing I know I realize that my rear tire is running on the inside of my frame, which is obviously not a good thing! I being to slow down and head back to my vehicle and luckily I made it there without the tire popping. Crap, I said as I load my bike back up and head home, it's only been 25 mins! Ohwell, what can I do? Plan B is to now get to the gym but dropping my daughter off at school and making my way back across town is the task at hand. I make it to the gym and engage in a great Back and Triceps workout and next thing I know 45 mins have passed and I make my way to the stationary bike. After 30 mins on the stationary bike I was feeling somewhat redeemed from the technical difficulties of this morning. Hey, as I was out there this morning on the loop and there were quite a few fellow tri bikers. Ok, so this got me thinking because these guys were in a train line (drafting) and really kickn it around the loop, which was cool, but I was thinking why do the draft off eachother if you cannot in triathlon races? I guess maybe there just working out, dunno. For now it's just training and life ....1 step at a time.. rockon`

Over and Under..Out..

Wasn't feeling well today, actually started yesterday afternoon, even took a nap later afternoon yesterday. Slept in today and totally relaxed and feeling much better now. Due to the ill feeling I took today off from cycling and it was a little rainy out and just didn't want to make what ever was bugging me, worse.

So I spent some time reading the Training Bible and trying to put together some better training for myself. It is difficult to balance everything but I think this week should be a better week for me as I long I don't push that bug. I am going next week to speak with a swim coach who teaches a Masters program and they swim Tue, Weds, Thurs from 7:30-8:30 pm. Late for me but for $40/mo I gotta pick up my swimming!

Anyway, short and sweet. Everyone have a great week and Rockon`...

meeting Ironman AZ ...

Friday was a nice rest day. Although it seemed like I should be doing something I refrained and rested, oh wait, does mowing the lawn because the grass is about 12" high count as anything? I did have to do that right when I got home because I have been putting if off all week since about 3 weeks ago, haha. Hey, I had to get the long bike ride in! After finishing the lawn I told my wife to get ready because we were going out for dinner. She asked "where to?" I said "just a place, get ready."

When we were on the way when I told her she had two choices, (maybe that was a mistake) it was either a place called Niko Niko's (for those Houstonian's, they know its a great Greek place) and an Italian place called "Vincents". Her reply was "I don't want Greek, I don't like it", I said "Have you tried it?" She said "No but I don't want it and Italian? Not sure I want that either" I guess screaming could have been the next thing but trying to keep from utterly driving around the city to find something to eat I gave her 1 more choice, El Patio Mexican restaurant. Funny, enough she then says "Well, you pick?" Hey wait, I thought! That is what I had done in the first place and you disagreed with my first 2 picks. (One time when we were dating we went to the original El Patio and had dinner and drinks and close to the end of dinner my wife, Rebecca; girlfriend at that time, said she started feeling really weird, like woozy and disoriented. She had drank 2 of there famous Blue margaritas, which was not enough to buzz here but we were leaving the restaurant and she said that she started feeling dizzy so much so that she couldn't walk straight. We we got to the car and I was making fun of her because I had said she drank too much and was a lush but just as we left the parking lot she said to pull over she was going to be sick and next thing you know, she was.

We eventually got back to my apartment and I got her to the couch and was next thing I know she's passed out like Mike Tyson just hit her. Next morning she said that something like that has never happened to her and she felt really weird, not like drunk weird but like totally out of it weird. Well as days went out and talking to other friends about what happened, word was, rumors, that the restaurant was known for putting some kind of "extra" stuff in the drinks of women to get them outta it and acting crazy. The place is a nice place and the atmosphere can be wild on Friday nights so maybe that was true, I don't know but we never went back to the original.)

So Italian or Mexican was the now the current choice. I headed towards El Patio Mid-town and when we arrived we decided to sit inside because it was a little hot, humid and windy. We had never been to this new location in mid-town so were reluctant due to the experience he had at the original location before. Overall, it was Great and no problems with the drinks! I would recommend the Mid-town location.

Saturday morning was out the door for the morning run at 6:30 am. Meet up with the Team In Training Group Gulf Coast Chapter and ran with them on the 7 mile route. Finished in 1 hr 26 mins, which is a good run for me and it was humid. After the run I was standing around talking to others and I met this lady named, Elisabeth, who had just had knee surgery 2 weeks ago and was out running! OMG, she was running! Two weeks ago, surgery! Anyway, as we started to talk she told me about the injury and the what she had been doing to help recover it and that she was an Ironman!!! I was like wait a minute, back that last line up again, you did Ironman? She said yea, Ironman Arizona 2006 and loved it! Said she would do it again in 2008. Wow, I met a local Ironman! She was a very nice lady and lots of other people had been coming around to talk to her and ask her questions about running and her knee and what not. I left thinking, Wow, Ironman! She's an Ironman and I met her, Ironman, huh, imagine that. Mine is coming, one day at a time.

Rockon`

Winners of Life

Waking up today was not really a problem to head to the pool. Actually, all day was not a problem, it was actually pretty good. When I got to the pool, OSG, was there and just getting ready to start his swim so that leads me to believe that he is 5 am swimmer as well. We xchanged words briefly and both commenced to swimming. I swam 400 y and I was out of gas. (note to self, Gotta swim more) So after a few swim drills w/ and w/o paddles I went to ride the stationary bike, although, I ran out of time and had to leave I felt it was productive. On the way out, OSG, say "C-ya next time" I think we are becoming the swimmers of the 5 am because no one else is even looking at the pool at that time. Matter of fact as I was riding the bike I counted 26 people working out at 5:30 am, guess the others were in bed.

Anyway, I got home and dug out my ol`bible book of triathlon. Wait, it is called something like that, "the Triathlete's Training Bible" and noticed that I had marked a date on the inside cover when I started reading it and wow! It was June 22, 2002! And I also noticed that I did not get far and it appeared that I picked through certain sections of the book that I wanted to read first.

So it got me thinking, what was I doing in 2002 and how come it has taken 4 more years to get back to Triathlons? As I remember, the long story in short, I was living in Las Vegas at the time and wanted to be in a triathlon, problem was I didn't even know how to swim front crawl. So I looked around for a coach and found a guy named Frank Butterfield. Great guy with the pittance's and love for helping others in the fitness world of working out, swimming, biking or running, or all the above.

Hired Frank as my coach and he we started in the pool on the wall. It took a few lessons to get me to the other side and a few weeks later I was swimming down and back. Then due to "life" I moved back to H-town and continued training and did my first Sprint triathlon in Austin, TX. then called the Capital of Texas Triathlon and now called Americas Triathlon. So I had a great time and loved it. Then "life" again and in 2004 I ran my first marathon here in Houston.

Continued to just be active lifting weights but nothing in the tri world but always having it in the back of my mind. People are right, once you get bit by the tribug it's in you. It may have laid dormant for a while but it's active and wanting more.

So what brought it out of it's sleeping lazy state? After working out this last year and getting in better physical shape I started running more and realized that I wanted to run a marathon again but did not want to put in the time to train for it so went for the 1/2. Next thing I know I want to try swimming again and then biking. So I do a little of both and start looking up web sites again and I am hooked once again! I even volunteered for local tris just to go hang out and help and be around it. Then one day I find YOU GUYS! Blogger Land. I read about Wil, TriSaraTops, and Stu and how they are all getting ready for Ironman Wisconsin and I am totally drawn into there lives and stories and struggle's of preparing. I tell myself I want to be like them and all the others I eventually seek out on the blog. I'm Hooked! So low and behold 1 Step Closer 2 Ironman is created.

Ironman is not just about SBR, it's about life, dedication, balance, endurance, friendship, discipline, strength, learning, understanding and Love. Love for yourself, others, and the sport.

I am eager to continue my steps closer to Ironman because I know no matter what the result is we are winners, winners of Life (WOL).

Peace...

My First 1/2..

WOW, Totally awesome! I just found out today that the Lone Star Triathlon in Galveston that will be help in April 2007 web site is up with the information! OMG, I want to register now! but registration does not open to Nov. 1, 2006, in a couple of weeks, and yikes $165 for the fee. Not too bad I guess but more than I thought.

Ok, so I was looking at the time cut offs and trying to determine my current status against the cutoffs to see if I would make it today and according to where I am today, it would be close.

My biggest question is my swim. As I have posted before I am not a great swimmer. The tri is a salt water swim, which helps with buoyancy and is also a wet suit swim with water temps in the upper 60's to low 70's, which again will help but I do not want that to be a "crutch." So what to to what to do? For now I am in my running training weeks leading up to the (2) 1/2 Marathons but waiting to really concentrate on swimming till after the Houston Marathon in Jan 07 only leaves me with 3 months to feel confident on my swim and not really sure that is a good place to be. So that only leaves me getting to the pool more or signing up for a monthly ($40) master swim class to get better. Overall, I feel it would make sense to invest say 3 months worth of masters swimming and still have 3 months to build the swim and then move on to increasing the bike endurance, what you all think? I know I will have to balance some bike training between now and then which shouldn't be a problem being as the master swim program swims at night which would continue to leave my mornings open for runs and mild biking except for longer bike rides during the weekend. IMO that is.

Currently, I am up to 7 miles on the long runs and feel good and 11 weeks out from the Las Vegas 1/2 marathon so I feel I am doing good. Being as I will be coming off the (2) 1/2 marathons in Jan 07, my run training should be adequate to carry forward for 3 months, IMO.

In the mean time I have to just sign up and get`r done!!

Any words of advice are greatly appreciated.

Rockon`

For the Love of Iron

OK, ok, it's true. I love the Iron in some way shape or form. Today, I was set to go swimming but due to not getting enough sleep the last few nights I did not feel recovered from Sunday and Monday and my morning heart rate was higher than normal so I slept in another couple of hours, which by the way was Great! So I wake up get ready and head to the gym to lift weights.

As I am performing my upper body workout I realize as the music is rockn` in my ears that I love the IRON. I have always lifted weights, ever since high school. Workout out has been something that I have had to partake in ever since the high school days. Reading the muscle magazines, talking to other weight lifters and even going to local body building and Mr. Olympia contests. At times I could never get enough of the weights and life style of working out and eating good. So this morning as I was working out and the love of the iron came to me I realized that I really love things with Iron.

I love the weights, iron; I love guns, iron; I love muscle cars, of which I own a 1970 Chevelle Supersport, iron; I have always loved watching the Ironman Triathlons on ABC's Wide World of Sports from the first time I saw it, so its Iron! Big Iron gates that surround the house of Don Corleone in the movie the Godfather, Iron.

It just represents strength, toughness and hardness!

It's those things that make us better as people, as athletes.

Rockon`

It truely is the Gridiron

This is a new movie out this weekend with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and a must see! Totally inspiring and heart whelming. He plays Coach Sean Porter, who is on right. True Inspirational Story! I wont give it away but you got to see it. Then we can talk about it.

Saturday's run was ugly but pretty. I woke up a little later than normal because I went to bed late and so when I was getting ready in the morning, my wife woke up so I asked her if she wanted to go walk while I ran and with a greatness she said Yes! It's so nice to have her come out even though we really don't stay together once we're there but the ride to and from and talking as I finished my run and made the turn around and caught back up with her. It was Nice!

The Ugly part was the fact that the humidity was like 859% if there is such a thing! Which made it very very sticky, muggy and sweaty! Due to the not so nice condition it was hard to keep my HR down in my Z1 and Z2 levels and caused me to talk more than usual. I ended a long short run with 4 miles.

The rest of the day was just relaxing and spending time with the family and my daughters friend who spent the night on Friday and for some reason they stayed up really late because they didn't wake up till Noon! Nice to be a teenager, remember? LOL.

As the afternoon went on I knew I needed to prepare for bike ride on Sunday morning. I had to check up ol`Lotus 2001 2 wheeled tank! and make sure I was ready to go. Turns out my cyclocomputer is shot, darn! I went to the LBS to get a couple of spare tubes, gatorade, bars and gels. Got the bike ready and then we left for dinner and movies. Great!

Sunday morning woke up and got everything into the Murano, which, by the way, I was very happy with because once I folded the seats down my whole bike fit without having to take the wheel off! This makes me very happy for now because I didn't really want to buy a hitch/rack to haul it around, so I can make do and put it on my Christmas list (for those of family who are reading this, hint, hint)

Got to my unloading spot to start my ride and low and behold, no Cycling Shoes! So a few choice words were called out and I went back home to get them, it's about 16 mins away so 40 mins later I'm back at where I started with shoes. Start off on the ride and it's nice and easy. HR is staying down in Z1 and feels nice out. About 8 miles in I stopped a local store for facilities and some other cyclists caught up. We all proceeded together down the route but when it got onto the flats this group layed the hammer down. The leader turned around and asked me "are you comin?" I said "thanks but I'm riding slow today, I appreciate it though" (Like I could have kept up with this group) So next thing I know there outta sight. Being as my computer was out I planned on just riding an hour out and back so when I got to the time check I turned around and headed back. Let's see if I can get back a little quicker I told myself. Not only did I seem to have a slight tailwind but there were a few rain clouds waiting for me, nothing bad, just drizzles. I made it back in 45 mins. Oh yea, somewhere on the turn around my HR decided it was tired and didn't want to monitor anymore so I went by PRE. When I got back I drove the route and ended up at 28.5 miles. Good, bad, heck I don't know. Most I've riden outside in a long time. I felt good just Hungry. When the HR stopped I was at 1130 calories burned so I figured it was the same going back and eating what I brought and stopped to get was no where near that many burned.

It's raining really hard now and I have eaten lunch to get some calories back. I feel good overall.

As I rode, I thought about the movie Gridiron Gang and different parts. Once you see it you will relate to it as well. It's funny how the pool, rode, and pathways we SBR on are our Gridiron! It's where we have to take control and do it, as Nike says. We are the ones that have to have Heart to continue, no one can give us dedication or heart. We have to dig inside and find our drive to never quit, even when it's rough and tough and things are not the way we want them to be. Even when there's a dnf in a race, you have to dig back in and sign back up and go for it. It's a never quitting attitude, an attitude to be a Winner! Winner's have patience, determination, and Heart. "The Difference between Winner's and Loser's, is that Winner's Don't Quit!"

Rockon`