Fire, Fire, Fire in my Belly!

I've taken the month of October off from structured training for the past two years to avoid getting completely burned out, and it works, more or less. Usually I get back into training in November without complaints, but also without enthusiasm.


Being sick, on the other hand, can do wonders for your drive and motivation. Now that I'm done being useless on my sickbed I have newfound vigor and appreciation for my workouts. I feel like it's time to start bustin' ass, and I can't wait to put time in the pool and on the roads and trails. For some reason I look forward to the disciplined schedule.

Now, if only the weather would start sharing my sentiments...

Still Breathing

I got squashed last week by some sort of flu. I was out for the whole weekend, and I'm not supposed to exercise until this coming weekend. I had been a little sick since Thanksgiving and finally went to see a doctor about it when I wasn't getting any better. A full course of antibiotics later and I'm feeling tip-top.

I'm looking forward to really getting focused on the training regime. I even cut my hair short to help get me in the "zone". There isn't much time before the season picks up, so I have to get ready for the key training weeks coming up.

I don't have any photos to post, not much has happened since my last post. The snow should melt here in Boulder just in time for the next batch of snowstorms. Who knows when the roads will be clear to train on. It's been over 4 weeks of bad conditions and I've heard that a lot of the pros in town have been leaving to go train in Arizona.

The next big thing on my plate is a set of time trials to get some HR zone data. Updates to come afterwards.

New York, NY

Happy New Year! I'm hoping this will be a great year for training, racing, and competition. My main concern for this year is to reach milestone after milestone in order to reach the goals I set. First and foremost, I really want to improve my running enough to say that it is NOT my weakest leg. I at least want to post some half-decent run splits. Secondly, I think that breaking 2:00 for an Olympic distance race would be a really nice feather in my hat. My two "A" races of the season are National Collegiate Championships on April 21st in Tuscaloosa, AL, and National Age Group Championships in June in Portland, OR.

For the past week or so I've been in NY/NJ. Getting workouts in is tough. Pools are far and few between, roads suck, and traffic is bad. So far the best riding I've found has been IN New York City, around Prospect Park. I'll be happy to be back in my own bed in Boulder, where finding a place to work out is the least of my worries.

Here's to an injury free 2007!

Holy Crap! Snow!

White death is falling from the sky! So far Boulder has accumulated a little over 2 feet of snow today, and it's still coming down. My last final exam was cancelled due to the road conditions. The snow, compacted with finals, has left me exercise-less for 2 whole days. I'm feeling a bit stuffy as a result. I'm ready to blow this popsicle stand and head to the East Coast, where I hear the roads are free of any frozen liquids. Tomorrow I'll try to get out and do some skate skiing if the North Boulder Park gets groomed.

Finals, Winter Break, Skate Skiing

It's finals week and I have 3 more to go before I'm done. My training really gets inconsistent around this time of the semester because studying takes precedent, unfortunately. Once I'm done with the semester I'll be heading out to the East Coast to visit family and friends for the holidays. I'll be bringing my sweet fixed gear bike to train on. So long as the roads stay dry I'll be out grinding up the hills of my old stomping grounds.

In other news, I've recently picked up skate skiing. I'm still learning the basics but it's pretty darn fun.

Startup 101

My first post! I'll be using this blog to keep an up to date account of how my training is progressing. Pictures and anecdotes abound, for sure. All I have to do now is figure out how everything works. So far no luck with posting any photos.