Canyon road, I can see our house, well kinda from this pov
Checkin’ IN!!!
So, every once in awhile its good to look back so that in good conscience I can keep focused today and with my mind ever aware of the future. I came across a post of min to some friends in a local running group.
So, in the spirit of being an athlete. This may shock Liz too. I still am not a runner, but I am an athlete. I have hibernated for far too long and feeling the animal come back out from inside me. Liz asked the other night where’s my ‘why pay to participate’ mantra gone. Well I am a frugal butthead it is true, however, I am not happy with letting myself be put on a shelf (last thing I was truly passionate about was snowboarding from 97 -2002 and a couple of years as a regional rider for vans and Sims), I have a 9 year old and a newborn – yes little Juniper – and would like to be around for many years with and for them with Liz.
To that end, I am beginning to embrace that I run, and beginning to enjoy it, but more so the relationships of the fine folks that are runners, survivors, athletes, and just getting-going’ers…… I don’t often share goals. But I am trying to overcome a few things and thought I would share. Hopefully this does not put-off anyone in our group but may serve to burn the kindling hotter…..
Shane’s Goals—
- I want to get to 190 lbs or less by my birthday next year (June 25). I currently waffle at 212 lbs. This is the highest level task for me
- I want to get to an 8:00 – 8:15 minute pace for 10 K to 13.1 miles — same time frame as number 1
- I want to run Epic with Liz and other good friends – FYI i hate running relays – Other cycling/running events include – Tour de Park City, Cache Valley Gran Fondo or Logan Sprint Tri, Rockwell, MS150, Tou 13.1, Drop 13, Saints to Sinners…and whatever else Liz and I fancy
- IM 70.3 in 2017 will be either Aix en Provence (France) or St George and I want to finish under 7 hours
- I’d like to organize a triathlon for local kids 6 years to 16 year old…. I am thinking right before school starts in 2016 so middle to late August, so anyone that wants to help….just want to inspire kids to get active and not take a 20 year break like me
- Enrich friendships as I go. I know I can be a turd. I work with C-level executives in my profession (and I travel too much) and well I want cut throat to not be what I do when being athletic. So, if I have offended you by my love of cycling or anything else, kick me so I can be better, tell me to tone it back….
I apologize for the cathartic moment of sharing, but it is taper week. I am exited and nervous for TOU 13.1. i think I am on target to do a 2h30min or better…. I did it for Liz at first, but I guess it truly is for me (so no guilt for her)…..
I think this is a plenty good start for now, thanks for the 2 minutes…back to normal programming….
Seriously, great people, great friends, awesome athletes, great humans! Thanks!
Some interesting dynamics for me in those words. Firstly, I can see how my focus and drive have changed and matured. Specifically concerning my ‘why’ and my motivation and my confidence. I am curiously hoping that my approach to this build up to May 4, 70.3 IM St. George pays off. Coming out of an off year is disruptive enough, then to add int he ‘stresses’ that go along with trying to ramp back into the life style and providing Liz and my family with enough focus is a fun juggle.
Work has been all over the board with stress. Again I am a firm believer that the body is completely unable to differentiate stress, it’s just received as stress to the body – it can’t be: family stress, life stress, work stress, training stress, driving stress, health stress. The body an mind just absorb it as a cumulative ball of STRESS.
I spent some time down in Mississippi lately. I was privileged enough to spend three evenings running on the Natchez Trace and was able to take in the super Moon event. I almost missed hte supper moon, but I decided as I saw some folks with camera’s and the like, to hang around and watch. I was not disappointed. It was great to see over the lookout point and the reservoir where I was near and to be able to just take in the moment. I even called Liz and we caught up while I was out grabbing a few phone pix and video, too.
Ok, back to the quoted text. I want to break a few things down and point out where I am at.
— I am still a dis-believer in goal setting. I think of it more in establishing healthy patterns and driving in or towards the right things. Goals for me often become limiters or distractions, and taint my vision of an end-to-end type experience. My field of vision as it were, has always been ‘big picture’ minded. Sometimes that is a bad thing too, b/c tot he frustration of my wife, I don’t let the details or speed bumps or disruptions become something that derails things, they are merely aspects of the equation that need to be dealt with when appropriate and ignored or discarded when appropriate. This allows me to iterate through the process and allows me to throttle things appropriately, sounds like how I now approach training plans and cycles.
— Shane Goals section thoughts from today – 08 April 2019:
- Reflecting on what I said above, I hit my 190 lbs and am back to the waffling 207 -ish. Trying to find a way with the correct activity levels that will help me stay sub 200 lbs and with enough energy to give attention to Liz and family and also the training I need to do for me whether or not I have an event or another focus.
- pace – meh. I was there, I will be back, it’s not my ‘in the headlights’ focus. I am more focused on correct load and volume and my times will follow if that is what’s right given how I built my ‘chassis’ or if it’s too fast or too slow. I have really been on feel as of recent and making sure my overall BPM for my heart rate is sub 150 on all my runs.
- Well, this was event-centric, some came and some went. The primary focus is 70.3 IM St. George, and then a few sprints and gearing up for a Full IM. I’m thinking the full will be either Santa Rosa, or Madison Wisconsin. Who knows, time will tell. Real focus is just be in the shape that I can take on an event should the means and the timing work out.
- I did St george, not Aix, and well, the time was off, but I had a great swim and bike, but a horrible run.
- NOt in the current picture and scope of stress I’d like to manage. Astrid and Juniper really changed this dynamic. I’d still like to do it, as I want to see Dennis do another local sprint, he loved it, but didn’t put the work in for it. When he tries, he does so good. It’s fun to watch, but I am trying to let him develop his own drive, but support him when he jumps in to things.
- I am hoping I have done well here. I do think I have re-calibrated the ‘in you face you must know that I am a triathlete, and you will listen to everything I say about me’ misplaced excitement I was in. I imagine I offended folks, and maybe that is why folks keep their distance. I stay active in my local running and multisport circles, but it feels really ‘absent’ lately.
Anyway – training – last week was my first real jump at volume. I went over the 8 hour mark in activity. I need to maintain that the next few weeks building up to 70.3 IM St. George so that I may sharpen the sword as it were. It’s more like, I am still pounding and shaping the medal and just hope that the metal blade will hold its tang and not shatter as I put it through the crucible as I ramp volume and intensity a bit.
Distance snapshot for the last week
Time snapshot of the last week.
SWIM –
I’m solid, not much looking for gains, but I feel fresh and strong. My swims are interesting as of late as I have seen some major gains. I have a should injury I am monitoring and am doing PT, not as perfect as I could, but the stretches and the water weight I am doing keeps things where it should. I have not felt a locking or impingement type feeling since the MRI back in Nov/Dec of 2018.
BIKE –
I got two solid rides in last week. The indoor training rides have translated quite a bit to outdoor. I’m where I am going to be at, and as long as I don’t over bike all will be well. I have been tinkering with my fit and will hopefully get another feel today in the current setup. I have noticed coming out of sitting into a standing mash, that my knees bump my aero bar stubs. So Its more aggressive for sure, but I got to see if it is ‘right’ for me.
RUN
My Heart rate BPM avg on runs is what is currently telling. I’m following more volume, shorter runs, and running slow to run fast. I feel good. I am trying to stay in front of things with strength exercises and stretches while swimming and while thinking about things at home.
Overall, I think I am moving the right direction and will see how it continues. I don’t know yet what I am thinking about May 4; currently i think I am more yellow than green and not slipping toward the RED. Oceanside and Galveston ate up a lot of folks with weather from the pro ranks to the age-groupers I know. I am merely trying to keep realistic expectations and keep resentments at bay.
Life is good, a bit stressful at times, and the family is healthy and well. Trying to create space for my wife as well for her to have her time and I have to be a bit more aware so I don’t go all cranky, hangry from my current loads of training and work crap I deal with, that I try to keep out of the family dynamic. Sometimes it bleeds over tho. We’ve also been lucky to receive Liz’s parents for a 2 weeks and hoping they are having a good time with the grandkids despite their own personal challenges with aging. So I will keep checking in as I can to try to keep my mind sharp, and keep my writing ok – this is something I am doing for work professional development so I don’t go stale in my new roles.
We’re also working on some projects at home and here are a few update photos:
finished
finished
before pic
before pic
before pic
finished
I earned some award at work, didn’t know about it until I received a text from a GM attending an internal conference. Ya, still not sure what it all means.
ONWARD!
Activities –
I use the following trackers:
- Garmin Connect (which pushes the files to the following services):
- Training Peaks
- Strava
- and the ones I don’t remember (Map my stuff via Under Armour and things like the Great Bicycle ride initiative stuff)
Honestly, I mainly use Training Peaks as I pay for an annual subscription on it now, and it is the most detailed in data and other helpful information to keep me where I want to go. Use the ‘Links’, then ‘Track me’ section to find and stalk me if that’s your thing.
Relevant Pics
Helped Liz re-do this section of wall and transformed it into a command center for her. Liz also launched her blog – http://www.happyinthehills.com
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