Tuuuuuuurtle!

I know that your "base" training is supposed to be slow... but come ON! Hard to be patient isn't it?

SO... I've entered my 3rd week of consistent training... and I have to say... MAN IT'S BORING! HA! Kidding... only kidding... but not really. I dunno... it's hard to start over isn't it? I mean, it really does feel as though I'm starting from square one. My longest "run" to date was yesterday.... a grand total of 40 minutes... 10 of which was spent walking for warmup and cool down. That's just where I am. Here's the thing... I know that if I don't do this right... my body will just collapse and I'll end up NOT being able to train. THAT would be a disaster. So the name of the game is slow, short, and patient.

Around February of last year, I started noticing that my hips would just NOT open up. I was stiff and in pain pretty much all the time. So... naturally I figured I'd rest and stretch and things would come around. Not so much. Then I started getting weekly, really deep massage... no dice. Finally... I went and saw a chiropractor and an orthopod... turns out I have some early signs of osteoarthritis in both my hips... primarily in my right. Both docs flat out said that I probably shouldn't be doing long distance stuff anymore... and to even consider finding another "hobby". I literally welled up with tears. How do you react to someone when they tell you that you can't do what you love? Well... I for one, gave them a big "F-YOU!"... in my head of course. So... for this... and various other reasons... I just didn't train. I mean... I stayed relatively fit... but I really laid off the running and just let my body rest.

So you can see why I'd be cautious as I enter into this year with high hopes. I think the rest has done my body good. In some ways... I feel more strong than I ever have. I have until the first of March to build my base... and then I'll start working with Coach Liz again! She's graciously allowed me to re-enter her fold... and I can't think of a better person to guide me through another great season. As of right now... I've got 5 races on the books... primarily Olympic distance stuff with one half-iron in July. Being who I am... I've put the half-iron world championships on the schedule... always the optimist!

Oh! Here's something that I've noticed since I started again... the entire family is more calm. Ya. Weird huh? I mean... I can understand why I might feel more calm... but it turns out... it has the same effect on my kiddos. Or maybe its not that... maybe its that I find them much less annoying because I'm meeting my own needs in addition to theirs. Does that make sense? I think parents fall into a trap. If you were to ask any parent what their first priority is... my guess is that up words of 90% of them would reply, "my kids"! While this may be true... I think it's a dangerous direction to head. I mean, that's what we're SUPPOSED to say as parents right? Anything else would be selfish and deluded. But here's the thing... if you're neglecting yourself... how can you possibly give your all to be the best parent you can possibly be? So I think it's a tie. If I were asked, "Who comes first in your life?" I would reply with a hearty, "US!" Meaning... my family... which, yes, includes me. I'm a better Dad when I'm training. I'm more patient and calm and full and able to give more easily without hesitation or resentment b/c my needs are being met too. So... YAY! Food for thought.

Thanks for taking the time to read. Hope you're all happy, healthy, and whole.

Breathe...

Psssst...

I think I might be back.

It's been well over a year since I've competed in the sport. Without too much detail... it was just something that I thought I needed to do. I needed to refocus... clear my head... regroup. What I've found over the last year is that this is part of me... it's in me... I need it. Or maybe it isn't the sport itself... but rather what it breeds in me. I need to push. I need to challenge. I need a little physical adversity in my life to be whole. Over the last year I've been missing a part of myself. Honestly... it didn't really occur to me until this last week. I've just felt off... not myself. I realized what training and competition bring out in me. When training and racing... I feel clear. I feel possibility in myself and those around me. It fills a hole that hasn't ever really been filled by anything else. I'd like to tell you that simply being a good Dad... being a good friend... being a good employee "fullfills" me. Maybe I'd like to tell you that b/c that is what we learn we're supposed to be satisfied with as we grow up. That that is enough... and for many... maybe it is... and how GREAT! But I've never been one to be completely satisfied. To stand there... look around... and say, "HEY! This is awesome! I did it! I am now ok!" That's just not who I am... which in my opinion is equal parts annoying... and equal parts fantastic. I just want more. And I'm not talking about stuff. Stuff is easy. I'm talking about challenging oneself... in whatever way satisfies you... to go for more. To work, sweat, rage, cry, strive, fail and succeed. THAT... that's what I need. And I have to be okay with that. I have to accept who and what I am and be good with it. Some days I'm totally there... others I'm not. But that's all part of the ride.

I'm excited. Thanks for taking the time to read. I hope you're all happy, healthy, and whole.

Breathe...

Over Before...

it really began.

Despite my greatest hopes for a fantastic season of training and racing... I've made the decision to put triathlon on the shelf for the foreseeable future. While this saddens me beyond measure... it is something that I need to do... not just for my family... but for myself as well. It feels right.

Having said that... I'm inspired by the possibilities of the coming months and what they may hold. Thank you for all of your kind and inspiring comments left here over the last few years... I'll miss them... and you.

Thank you for taking the time to read. Hope you're all happy, healthy, and whole.

As always...

Breathe...

Rob

And so...

it begins! Today was the first "official" day of training for the 2011 season! Or at least it's the first day that I actually looked at the training schedule my wonderful Coach Liz has painstakingly put together for me! YAY!

I was in San Diego last week at a very important and official sales meeting where we sat in rooms and talked about things and stuff related to overtly optimizing synergies while flawlessly executing prime objectives effectively ALL THE WHILE... thinking like a customer. WHAT? Ya. Exactly. Like a Boss. I swear to GOD! Meetings like these are the bane of my existence! I'm joking. Really... it's not that bad. I'm just trying to sound like those cool kids that complain about everything and hate their Dads. For realz... I usually come away from these meetings ready to get after it! Besides, its the one time each year that I get a solid week with a couple people that I really enjoy. This year, as a bonus... I got a virus! YAY! It was AWESOME! I threw up most of the night on Tuesday. So RAD! Nothin like gettin a core workout the old-fashioned way! The real bummer is that I had grandios plans to hook up with Beth, James, and Charissa for some running action... didn't happen... sorry guys!

So... training began today with an easy, sunny, gorgeous run on the river trail. I'm attempting to ignore the fact that about 35 min into the run... my legs were fatigued... ya... weird. It's almost like I'm starting all over again! But you know what? Isn't that AWESOME! From square one is a fun place to be! Stay tuned... it's gonna be fun!

Thanks for taking the time to read. Hope you're all happy, healthy, and whole.

Breathe...

Relaunch!

HI!!!!!! How are ya??? It's ME... Rob! Remember? I'm BACK!

Following a very challenging year... I'm relaunching the blog! I actually feel like writing a bit... and with the tri season just around the corner... I actually have something interesting to write about! YAY! I'm excited!

So... after a VERY big break, (basically, I didn't do a whole lot after Lake Stevens in August), "structured" base training began in early January. With the addition of Multisport Advantage to Eugene... I'm getting more quality rides in than I ever have during this month. Basically, MSA is a gym that's geared specifically toward triathletes... with CompuTrainers, TRXs, a treadmill, some balance balls, and a couple of weights. LOVE this place! So far, its added a ton to my training and Cristina and Brett, (owners) are really a pleasure to be around!

I'll be working with Liz again this year, (YAY!), and I just established my 2011 race schedule. I have a feeling that this is going to be a HUGE year for me on a number of levels. I have a TON to learn about myself and who I am as an individual, a Daddy, an employee, and as a triathlete... and it's all gonna be RAD! (Yes... I'm still trying to bring "rad" back! Who's with me!?)

OH! Minor detail... I broke my arm. Yeah. You read that right... I broke my arm. Well... technically, I fractured the radial head of my right elbow. Somehow... saying "fracture" is less dramatic than saying, "break". How? Skateboarding. Yes. You heard me... skateboarding. Santa brought me a saWEET, custom long board made by a friend of mine! Apparently, I'm not in my early 20s anymore... nor am I Tony Hawk. I crashed hard. SO... 7 days in a splint and sling. Yeah... that's it. Now I'm out of both and have been told to "take it easy" but move it as much as possible. WHAT? Oh yeah... and don't take ibuprophen. HUH? Yeah... that's what I said. Seems kinda stewpid doesn't it? Uh huh. Well... I'm post 14 days accident and 7 days out of the splint and sling... and it's getting better every day. Despite the injury, I've been able to run and bike butt-loads... but no schwimmin! Which totally bums me out.... but apparently I'll be back in the pool by the end of the month. We'll see... but I'm pretty confident.

That's all for now. Happy to be back. Thank you for taking the time to read! Hope you're all happy, healthy, and whole.

and...

Breathe...

You've just...

gotta check out this blog! It's basically comprised of little words of wisdom from a 5 1/2 year old young man named Hayden. They're sometimes irreverent. Oftentimes off-color. And always, wildly hilarious. I've known Hayden for most of his little, brilliant life... and I know you'll love the little guy almost as much as I do!

http://littlehisms.blogspot.com/

Enjoy and...

Breathe...