getting down to it..

Allllllll-righty then....... (watching Ace Ventura)

I am officially back on it.

I signed up for the SuperFrog 1/2 Ironman Distance in March. And The Rock and Roll Marathon in May. I think between those two events with different distances I should be able to concentrate on some good base work and even some speed for the half. I am actually curious what I can do in 8 weeks. I started running and swimming last week. Run went surprisingly well. Ran 5-6 miles at around a 10:30 with a low HR. Just trying to 'ease' back into things. Swam on Thursday with a total of 2500m in around 50 minutes. 200 warm 300 kick, 4x 500m alternate between paddles and fins. Felt good. Nice and easy. Averaged 1:30 per 100m / that is pretty good for me, considering I put in little effort.

In 2007 my friend Mike spent half of his days training for the SOMA Half Ironman in his office, Doing nothing. Ended up beating me by 12 minutes. WTF!!! So, it gives me a bit of confidence knowing that I just came off of an IM and have a good foundation. I should be able to wake the spirit enough to be able to finish with a good time, but I'll have to wait till week 4-6 to be able to determine a what that is exactly. ??

Well it is official I have been asked to join the team "Trybuy's". They sponsor a couple of pretty fast pro's like Craig Alexander, Jeff Keil, You know..... Guys that finish, when you are about to cross the 3-8 mile marker of the Marathon. AKA Super human/ Retard strength.....
MM and I are excited to be on the team together. He was supposed to ride with me this morning but bailed on me last night due to his 'cold'. Can't blame the guy; he's married with a kid, and his wife is pregnant. When it comes down to it KEEP THE WIFE HAPPY! {especially at the beginning of the season} He was afraid that his cold would get worse if he pushed it. SO, you know what that means, I slept in. I plan on leaving for an easy 50 mile spin as soon as my wife gets home. {told you I could not blame him.... I have one of them in my house too} Sometimes letting 'Her' get the workout done first is better than Me being on the road at 6:00 looking at my watch like a Hawk, as so I can predict being home in enough time for her to bounce and make Spin at 24 Hour Fit. MM and I are going to start riding in the morning on Tuesday's. Little training time and for a couple of married guys who both have kids......... It's exciting to be able to commit to that and to be able to match schedules.

Everything else is going pretty smoothly. After this week of Kristin going back to work, our schedule makes some time for me to train enough to do some specific races. No Full's this year though. Next Year for sure!

Excited that things are getting back on track. Schedule is moving almost automatically. By the end of next week things should be pretty clear, almost habitual.

Much excite for 09'!!!!!

Family Pic to sum up the easy going ways of the "Clousing's"

Like I said...Chillin... Notice the Beer bottle and half empty glass in the background?....uh honey? need one more please, looks like I can not move, she's asleep....

new yet old?

Well all...
Starting the New Year with a bang? not here.... We kept things low key and celebrated together!
We have been spending some much needed time hanging as a family. It has been nice.
Our regular schedule has been very simple and easy to keep regular due to the 'Kid'; as I like to crudly refer to Kayden (my Daughter). Keeping her on a specific schedule has given mainly my wife her sanity back. Kayden is sleeping through the night! at 12 weeks roughly 3 months that is rare. Some people have been told that sleeping through the night usually does not happen until 4-7 months. So gentlemen, as all of us married folk understand; Get the wife her sanity back and end any possibility of any "mis-understandings". Things go back 'on' today! We start the routine as we have talked about next Monday. We should see how interesting it will be once the Wife goes back to work. I get 2 days a week to have Kayden to myself. I am looking forward to it.

As for training? I recently asked JK what he thinks? I have done a ton of mileage. I am motivated to always do my best, and now with some experience I need a challenge. Ok before I say that openly, I want to make sure you all understand I am a realist. I don't want to say something that won't even be possible. Yet, I want something just out of my reach. So... Any ideas? I am opening the forum for any ideas from anyone. The one I got about a month ago {that I plan to do later in my life} is swim the Catalina Channel. Aprox 20 miles. You swim from Catalina to Palos Verdes/ North Long Beach. ya right.... not even remotely interested right now. NOW, I don't want to go ape shit here, but I would be down for almost anything. So I am considering Rock and Roll Marathon in San Diego (May) thinking sub 4hr would be attainable, and maybe the Muddy Buddy (June). SOMA Half IM in Oct? Sub 5:40?? Would like to possible do a Century under 5:20? Like I said ideas. Things to think about....

Inviting all silly to serious ideas out there. Any takers?

Slight crack in the blinds....

YAWN>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Well I finally took the dark drapes off of my windows. Since my final and other stuff had to be finished, I figured some much needed rest was in order. So other than smoking an occasional cigar, and drinking a few beers a night I like just being able to chill. It is nice....
Have not been doing too much. Although going to the gym has been a 'enjoyable' experience I am surprised I have not lost that much anaerobic strength.

Just a quick note in case I loose time again; Merry Christmas to everyone.
I would like to ask that if you see any form of a soldier, from one of the Armed Forces, that you buy them a drink and thank them for all of their hard work. Remember, regardless of how you feel about the War, they are doing their job. We owe them a lot of respect that they often do not get.
Soon I will return...

WHEW!

I have been enjoying the fact that I do not have to train! Wow, I feel great surprisingly. Now JK told me that I would be feeling this way after all of that training because I am not doing as much, my body is totally recovering; doubt I could do anything over a marathon. I am however trying to see if it is possible.
Last couple of days have been filled with taking care of the 'kid' so that my wife can start training for her own personal goals. I was however allowed to go for a quick 2:20 ride on Sat morning. Dusted off the road bike and just wanted to spin a bit. So one of my buddies D who also wanted to go for a ride joined in. I asked MM to join too, but even he had some time constraints of his own.
This morning I put working out on the back burner. I went golfing. Cigar and Bloody Mary at 7am, nothing better. Played 9 and hit the ball pretty well surprisingly. Wanted to go out after with a buddy of mine Matt, (feeling better bro?) and take him out for his birthday. But he called out and wanted to 'recharge'. Guess he had a rough night. See yo tomorrow brah!!
On the lighter side my daughter is growing like a weed. I sound like my mother right now but fuck it; "They grow up so fast!"
BAck to it tomorrow..........................................................

post race blues.................................................

hmmmmmm where do I start?
I have finished my race. Felt ok but still have a tad of the "what if's" about the race. Constantly thinking I did something wrong/ or could have done something differently. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ok..... so now you seem to maybe understand. Whatev. I am done and beer has never tasted so good! I don't have to worry about how many calories are in each/ what I eat/ when I eat/ if there are enough carbs for the next days ride.... etc....
So, I have been debating that with all I have done why not do something that is a "whatever" race. I am thinking of doing a Marathon. I mean after all if after all I have done to prep for this IM why not do a 4 1/2 hour run? Seems like a small task after a 12 hour race? Plus with a 2 week or so taper of drinking I am sure that my cals are up to be burnt.... SOOOOO Maybe a HB race on the 27th of this month. No time requirement/ meaning I don't care if I explode. I think I might just try to go all out for 26.2 miles and see if I can numb-out enough pain to finish under 4? Would be nice.

As for this week I am getting my ass in gear and going for a easy 50-90 mile spin on Sat morning! early rides make me feel good to be alive and good to come home and watch football all day and feel lazy knowing I have done more in an average day than most have all week.
Feeling blessed now that I am home more to actually do something with this new thing in my life called parenthood. It is weird, in a good way, but what a change! MM was right; not easy and difficult to train for IM with the new addition. What was I thinkin??? Oh that's right I wasn't thinking.... I was acting on instinct. LOL.
Later

stuffed.....

Well well, my bod is feeling rested with all that has taken place. I am truly a blessed man.
This week has been very fun for me. Monday was an easy walk down the hall of the hotel to my car, departing from AZ. Tuesday was my 1st shift back to the hospital. Heels killed. And Wednesday we headed out to the desert to for some holiday joy! Thursday and Friday have been cool, but now on its' third day, people are typically becoming less "happy to be a family" and more, "is there more Red??". Truth is we are having a blast. Playing a lot of golf, and drinking like a fish. Smoked about 2 cigars a day and my daughter has finally slept through the entire night!. Well Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and I am so thankful for all of you as well. All for my friends and family, a big thanks for being 'fans'.
A-Train