Resolution time. I resolve to get up at 6:00 a.m. or before every day of 2009. So far, I'm 0-for-2. I also resolve to be at work (on a normal workday) at 8:00 a.m. or before every day of 2009. So far, I'm 0-for-1.

I have 2 big events planned this year, with probably an un-planned race or two thrown in on top of that. For training, consistency and more miles this year are my main goals. This may include some time on the bike trainer in the coming weeks. Aargh.

2008 brought Geoff a new baby, so we pray his adjustment goes well. I hope everyone else had a Happy New Year, and is ready to tackle 2009! Be well, and train well!

What are your resolutions?

I've been feeling a little over-scheduled lately. I'm sure it's a common complaint of many Americans. I am usually able to manage my schedule, but lately I've been having some significant difficulty. Travel hurts, multiple children creates constant activity (not that I mind!), work is always busy. These are good days, and I'm trying to enjoy them as much as possible.

Sometimes I think I've reached the point that I can't keep up with myself anymore. I just have too many irons in the fire, and I'm constantly getting behind. Yet every day, I wake up with the previous day completed, and the new day offering up more opportunities. Making sure I get my runs in seems so trite by comparison with the 'significant' things I have going on, but we all know how significant our health is. It's the most significant part of living? So February I'm going to remember that. And be thankful for my health..

It's time to dust off those winter pounds. Time to put the tights and gloves away. Time to warm those muscles up with the sun, exercise those extra daylight hours with some extra exercise. Might as well make the most of the warmer weather (before it gets too hot) by enjoying the good things about spring. Casey's got a warm-up race scheduled, as do I.

I'm looking forward to the season, and spring makes it seem like it's really kicking into gear. I'll be pumping up the bike tires soon...did a little maintenance the other day. I'm back in the pool, along with the rest of the family - we've joined the YMCA. Hoping all is well with all of you!

I guess this entry is overdue. I'm keeping up okay with my training, but have neglected to log it.

A log is a great way to make sure you get things done. It is back-end accountability and also provides a great history. I marvel to think that every workout I've done over the last 5+ years is logged on this site. And now a few others have a record, too. We're accountable to each other to show up from time to time; we wonder about each other if we're absent for an extended period.

So sorry for the overdue post. I'm back on track.

I have found success in the binodal training season. It involves two major events - one early, and one late. The early one is there to blow out the proverbial cobwebs. It is to remind the body that life is not easy. There are trials ahead, and this is just a little glimpse of what's coming. So you'd better get ready. This year, that came in the form of a 157-mile bike ride on April 3.

To capitalize on this early-season event, I think it important to go in just a little bit cold...in other words, it's early-season, so you're not totally prepared. But you do it, with your sights set on the second event - which is the A race of the season. For me, that doesn't come until November. Ironman Arizona. Now, the real miles begin. And my body is ready, in no small part because I gave it a little taste of the pain...

Here we go into summer. No more excuses. Everyone dropped off the map now, and it's just me. P-diddy was sick; I saw him last weekend, and he said he was going to ride his bike...

hmm...

Geoff, still sending prayers your way...good vibes, thoughts, prayers, more prayers.

Casey, I saw you recently became older...then again, so did we all. My neck is feeling old this morning.

But I shan't be kept down. I must plug on. I have 22 1-hour Bible classes to deliver in the next 6 weeks. That's a lot of prep work! Time to get rockin...

Hello all! After a couple of weeks on the road (vacation with one work trip squeezed in) and a bout with a chest cold + fever, I'm officially well-rested and ready to tackle this stuff again! I've been off the grid (meaning the computer as well as training) pretty much since June 25 - thus the late entry for July.

But I'm back, hoping all is well with all of ye, inspired by Le Tour, feeling pressured by my upcoming races (but in a good way), just generally refreshed and excited! GLCBS was its usual fantastic self, Onesimus was also lovely. What a great group of young people!

Traditions can be good. Sustainable things that enrich life such as the Hamlin Zone Triathlon. Today we had the 3rd Annual. There were almost a few official finishers this time! But alas, I was disqualified for a flip turn during the swim; 2 guys were disqualified for an incomplete swim, and the last guy was DQed for getting outside assistance on the bike leg. Oh well, there's always next year.

Traditions can be bad, of course, and should always be open to tweaking as the conditions require. But the HZT is one tradition that has stood the test of time and always delivers some quality competition. It's my first triathlon since last year's HZT!

I think of this training blog as a tradition. It's something that I'll hopefully look back on and be glad that I archived my activity. I hope that some of you guys find the same!

I run out of a lot of things. I run out of energy. I run out of patience. I run out of time. But I never run out of running.

Running keeps me running. I liked a recent comment by our Brother and former Commentor, Ray - he said he's been having back problems. And he said he'd never had back problems when he was running. So what's he gonna do with his back problems? He's gonna run them out.

I hope it works out for him! Meantime, I'm gonna run. When I'm frustrated, I'm gonna run. When I'm hungry, I'm gonna run. I'm not running away, mind you. Just running out.

I never understood this phrase until I started intense core training a few years back. Having good core body strength enables better form and faster times in all three of the sports I primarily engage in - swimming, biking, and running. I test it from time to time - am I maintaining a good solid core? What if I focus on it for the next little bit - am I getting faster? Is it helping my form?

So I encourage ye to gird up thy loins like men. Buckle down, tighten up. Work harder. Get your whole body, fitly joined together, working together as every joint supplieth to the whole part. etc. etc. Training advice from the Bible rules.

Well, there comes that point where all the training may pay off - or maybe not. how fun! regardless of the outcome, as Asher says, "it's about the journey, not the destination," right? i dunno....something about failing in a race doesn't seem so chock-full-of-valuable-lessons to me. i'd prefer a PR, personally.

So here we go .... get ready, arizona, dyronman's en route. and here's to a PR for casey, or at least a bq, and a sub-3-hour PR for Geoff, while we're at it!

I've been quite the slacker here lately. 8.5 miles in 20 days. 1 swim workout. Javelina still has the shipping wrap on her. Why? I dunno. Been busy. Been very busy. It's all good.

Thanks to you guys, especially Geoff and Casey, for pushing me through your blog entries! It definitely helped. I'm now in the new-goal-setting phase, dreaming again of what's possible. Wondering how to set the goal high enough to push me along, yet realistically enough to ensure I have the ability to actually reach it. Fun times!

Has anyone set any new goals for the year? I have. This year, I will race my first swimming-only race, and my first biking-only race. I am swimming the 500 and maybe the mile. My goal is to swim the 500 in 5:40 or better. Then, I'm racing the Whitney Classic bike race in September. My goal is 1. survival, and 2. to win. My lone triathlon which I'm planning to do is the Tri Arkansas in August. I finished 7th there last year, and my goal is to try to improve upon both my time and my place.

So there you go. Should be a great year! I have a few other things lined up that may materialize as we go along. Also, I just finished the book "Born to Run" and recommend it as a fun read.

The bitter cold and snow has set in all over this great land (global warming!). We must dedicate ourselves to running just to stay warm (be exothermic!). We must resist the temptation to load on a layer of winter warmth around our midsections (too late!).

Seriously, though - what are those goals for 2010? How are they coming? February is the month when the resolutions have worn around the edges...maybe we've gotten a little more realistic? I'm sticking to my goals...500 sub-5:40, win Whitney Classic, better than 7th at Tri Arkansas.

Now I just have to get to work...

So we continue inevitably on in 2010, towards another annual set of goals. How are we holding up? Have we managed to stave off the winter poundage? Have we managed to avoid losing all sense of fitness?

Begin visualizing the accomplishments you are working towards. Begin owning up to the fact that, back in January, you thought your goals were possible. Begin buckling down and doing the work to get there! (I speak mostly to myself, here!)

So we head on into 2010 boldly with goals and dreams and some wild hairs. But the road is un-tested and unknown. So along the way, we run into some bumps. We keep plugging, but alas, it's just not what we expected. How will we react?

Our training history has built some physical and mental character that demands we press on. We will weather the bumps and roll with the punches. Time has been short for training for me, but I will not go down without a fight.

I love this word. It's something for which most people have intense desire. The thought of things which are "inspiring" evokes emotions and physiological responses like increased heart rate, breathing rate, etc.

Yet inspiration is so simple. It's an everyday - actually every few seconds! - process. It's just breathing in, which is then followed by breathing out. Inspiration is for me, this night, the presence of Geoff and Casey. Two guys that are just getting it done. Plugging away. Inspiration is getting on the forum and breathing in a little message about a GREAT race by Geoff or an encouraging word from Casey.

Let's make inspiration an everyday activity this month!

I had to put it on here (an entry for June), even though it's the 27th. That's an all-time record for late entry. Oh well. Looks like the Weeks of Insanity are coming to a close with GLCBS 2010...a nice way to finish it off.

So training has been quite a bit less than stellar. But I did mount up on Javelina yesterday for the first time in about 2 months...felt nice. She has missed me. Running was okay until last week; and I swam once this month. Really unbelievable how busy things have been. But as I said, looking to slow down in a few days. Oh and did I mention it's wicked hot-and-humid?

Well it's gotten just plain ridiculous. I'm too busy. Too much going on. Time to focus on slowing down, managing time, and what's important.

Training goals for 2010 have gone by the wayside, suffering at the hands of life's speed bumps. Hardly salvagable. But I guess I'll try. I hope everyone else is doing okay...must be a sign of the times or something???

It's too hot to get back into training. That's my excuse today. Well, it was until yesterday. Ran 4.25 and actually got a little cold. Well, not really cold, but my sweat was actually cooling my body off just a little bit...

Travel should slow down just a bit now, maybe I'll be back on the bike a little. I have a 100-mile ride September 25th. Thank goodness for coasting!

Back at it. It's the story of our lives. Just keep plugging. When things seem hopeless, just do a mile or two. Just believe, for goodness' sake!

Back in the saddle...