The Dog Days

It's been almost one month now since I put forward 666 bones for IMLP (hopefully that's not a sign of things to come) and over three weeks since I first blogged.  My mindset is much more that of an Ironman at this point than it ever was before either Arizona in 2007 or Florida in 2010.  I'm much more excited about training and racing (not finishing...racing).  All reports indicate that Lake Placid is an absolutely amazing venue from the scenery to the Olympic history to the small town/big support feel.  I'm 100% more excited about the coming year than I have been for many years.  The world ends in 2012 anyway, so I might as well try to make it a great one!

The last few weeks haven't been all sunshine and unicorns grazing on rainbows, though.  I've been slow to return to training, I'll admit, but my life hasn't been completely devoid of cycling and running.  Over the last three weeks I've ridden 175 miles and run a truly meager sum of 22 miles.  These are numbers many would scoff at.  What causes that, though, is perhaps the greatest barrier to my training:  simple fatigue.  Although the world flying business has slowed considerably, I'm still flying 1-2 times a week locally meaning nearly a full day lost each time.  It is absolutely worthwhile, though.  See the photo of yours truly below.  I'm up late with my best lady every night and up early the next morning, so if I'm not flying I can work up a sweat with my mates (volleyball, tight jeans, dog tags, etc.).  I just enrolled in another course working toward my MBA, and I've got several tests remaining for my professional development course at work.  I am still taking a day a week for my golf swing, though, but that will soon disappear as I need to really buckle down.

So where am I really right now?  Well, in my eyes not so great.  My year long journey begins at a weight of 185.  While that's nothing I'm proud of, it gets worse.  I just measured myself for the tux that I'll be wearing during the marriage of two of the greatest people in the world, and my waist measured a portly 37 inches.  Thank God I wear pajamas every day.  I think I can hear my dad laughing as we've gone quickly in opposite directions.  Now I have a few more goals to set.  By race day I WILL weigh 165 and have a 33 inch waist.  Hell, by the 500 Festival mini-marathon I'll acheive those measurements! 

Now I've got two promises to make:  I'll update you in a week - or at least by next Sunday night - and I'll give you 15 miles running and 100 miles cycling by that update.

Yours truly.