100 days

Actually 99, I was hoping to post yesterday but time got away from me.

I feel great, I am in the best shape I have been in for quite some time. Its nice to have people I have not seen in awhile say how good I look. I still have a long way to go and the weight is not falling off as fast or as much as I would like.

I made it through Thanksgiving without over eating too much. I was thinking the other day that a spring race is a great idea for the "ber" months where I usually eat way too much. I was also thinking during all the rain and cold what a bad idea the spring race was to have to train in all that. Plus a wrench was thrown into my plans when the Ventura pool was shut down from the 20th till the 2nd. Have no idea how I am going to get my swim in. I was thinking the ocean would work then it rained for 7 days straight. I really don't want to swim with whatever has been washed down stream. Anyone have a pool I can use?

I am finding out how hard it is to actually train everyday with life in full swing at the Stevens house. December is not a calm month over here. We wouldn't have it any other way though. Birthday party's, parent visits, and Christmas. It is like an interval sprint one day of rest 3 days of full speed, one day of rest 3 days of full speed.

Staying motivated is hard, finding the time is hard, and some of the workouts are hard. Some days I feel like I am ready and other day I wonder why the heck I signed up. I have for the most part stayed true to my schedule but as I enter the next stage the time and mileage go up, only 99 days. Crazy since when I started this it was 10 months away.

During the race I will not be aloud to wear my non-pod so I took a run the other day without it, I ran 4 miles and my mind is a crazy place with out the music. I think that is part of the whole Ironman thing though physical and mental preparation before and during the race. I have been ending my runs with the mental picture of the .1 in the 13.1 and pushing to the finish. It was awesome today as I turned down my street the final .1 and all of my neighbors were out and cheered me on to the finish, I really got the finish feel. I of course ran just a bit faster with them all out there. So if you all want to be at my house after my runs and rides I would appreciate that.

Randy has been back in the pool with me and that has helped out a ton. Swam over a 1/2 mile the other day. That would be the farthest I have ever swam in my life. Just a few pointer form him and I was doing much better. Thanks Randy.

Now its Annie's birthday eve, and I have much food to eat in the next few days. My wish is that I can find/make the time to burn it all off.

Merry Christmas

swim...bike...run.. repeat

Adaptation Stage

147 days and 21 hours to go!

The adaptation stage is a low intensity phase allowing me to get stronger gradually and to avoid injuries as I go along. It is also to adapt a whole lot of training into my lifestyle. The adaption phase is also a habit forming stage. I am using a plan from TriathlonGeek.com since I have never done anything as long and demanding as this I thought it was a good idea to follow a plan. This plan is 18 weeks long and I have 21 weeks till the race. So I will be doing week one and two twice.

I am feeling good, losing some weight and body parts dont hurt as much when I finish something.

I have a great app on my phone from MapMyRun.com it logs my run or ride via GPS very cool. I am also using the training log from this site to track all my training and I can see how many miles, hours, and calories I am doing. Like in October I did 52 miles worked out 7.5 hours in 14 workouts, and all that burned off 6,381 calories.

Amazing Grace...
The other day I am running along Foothill by the lemon orchards that are fenced in by barbed wire. Amazing Grace starts on the non-pod and I trip and somehow do not fall into the fence or fall at all, I just stumble. I was glad for Gods Grace at that moment.

Emily and I just had our 12 year wedding anniversary, for my gifts I got two new tires for the bike which are great 3 rides no flats. I also got a new computer for the bike for speed and distance. There will be a part in the race where I can not exceed 25mph. That would be on the back part of an 800 foot climb about mile 35.

Yesterday I swam about 750 meters (.466 miles) still not fully sure what I am doing wrong with the breathing thing, but I swim any way. I look forward to the day when I have this down since I can not stop in the middle of the harbor to catch my breath and it takes a lot more effort to swim with my heard out of the water.

I love the fact that all my friends are asking how my training is going. It is great to have accountability and support both of which I will need as the weeks tick down and the event get closer. I am also up for people to join me for a run, a ride, or a swim its much funner t have someone to talk to.



Swim Bike Run...repeat...

Naked and free

Well I did it, got me some spandex shorts and wore them on my lunch ride today. I am here to tell you how wonderful it was to ride in those shorts. Streamline, aerodynamic, tight.

I think I will spare you all a picture of me in them though.

My facebook feeds are filled with pictures from the Ironman World Championship from Kona, and it is getting me excited. There is something about being at an event, the excitement, the nerves, the goals that I really like.

Started this out at 233 and this morning I was 225. That's right Dad, I am catching up. I am feeling good and eating better and looking forward to running without my fat backpack on.

169 days, 16 hours, and 35 minutes left to train

Motivation of a father and son.

My father weighs less then me by 8-9 pounds, my son has been testing all my limits in my parenting skills. So I have turned this into motivation.

Not saying that my Dad cheated to get his weight off, and I would not want to have to go through what he did to lose it. However, I have to work a bit harder for mine to drop off. Fact is he weighs less then me and makes sure to point this out when we talk. It's just not right to weigh more then you Dad. I thing its a man rule or something. Motivation!

My son has been testing my limits and his on a regular basis. Over the craziest stuff, like getting dressed for soccer, brushing his teeth, picking up toys, eating dinner, and even what is for dinner. A simple request by me is met with a NO and then 30+ minutes of me acting like a crazy person, trying to get him to do what I asked. He does not move, does not say anything, and does not care what the consequences is every few minutes. He has lost all his favorite things; the Wii, Lego's, desert, TV, and any other thing I can take away to make him understand. That is where I am crazy, a 5 year old (almost 6) can not understand or rationalize. So my fuse has been getting shorter. Since I don't want to throw him out the second story window I need to run...motivation!

August was a bust as far as training goes. September though was full of motivation and workouts! I worked out 19 times! Burned 6,210 calories!

Took 4 bike rides, with 4 flat tires. Thanks Ryan for a very smooth shifting bike.

Ran 6 times, not fast but feeling better with each run.

Swam 7 times, still can not get the breathing thing down but I know it will come. Did do 550 meters though. 11 there and backs in the pool.

I also started doing the Insanity workout DVDs. I understand why the program is called Insanity. The fitness test was a workout in itself. I did 2 DVDs of that in Sept. Parts of my body hurt that I did not think could hurt. It is a FULL body workout.

All together I traveled over 43 miles (swim distance not included) spend 8 hours and 11 minutes moving. Which by the way is about how long I would like to do the Ironman California in. Actually under 8 hours would be AWESOME.

Thanks Dad and Cameron for the motivation. Yes Dad you still weigh more them me but not for long!!!

178 days 21 hours and 10 minutes till the gun sounds....then 8 hours later I cross the finish line :-)

200...199...198...197...

196 days till the race. I have been back on the bike, and this week ran twice, rode one and swam once. I am hoping to get in the pool this afternoon as well.

Taking a month off is not a great idea as far as training goes for a long event. I am sore and not where I would like to be at this point. I have been eating better most of the time. I have found that it is easier to eat a double cheeseburger then it is to run 2 miles.

speaking of running, I see some strange stuff while out pounding the pavement. Today along Telegraph I saw a pregnancy test device. Dont know if she was pregnant or not as I did not want to pick it up. But why would someone toss that out the car window and how did she take the test in the car? I should keep a camera and create a blog the stuff I see while running. But then I would spend more time taking pictures then running.

I am a bit bummed about my progress, however, I also am determined to do this. I just have to stay on track and not let too much time between each work out.

A different kind of training

So today is the 20th of August and I have logged ZERO training hours, miles, or laps so far this month. With only 224 days till the race I have some work to do. I need to add 1.2 miles to my swim, 9 miles to my run and 40 miles to the ride. Well At this point with 20 days off I need to add the whole race...

Has the month been a bust though? No not at all. I did a different kind of training. The first 2 weekends of the month at Teen Reach Adventure Camp (TRAC) it was more like endurance training. Physical and emotional.

TRAC is a camp that takes foster children from Ventura County camping in the mountains of Santa Barbara for 3 days. The first weekend we (a group of 30 volunteers) took a group of 23 teenage girls ages 12 to 15 to San Marcos Baptist camp. I was one of only 4 men on this trip. Crazy? maybe. I was scared to work at girls camp, and not knowing what to expect is always hard. I went into it with my normal positive attitude, and was once again transformed by God. I was not sure what I could offer 23 teen aged girls. What I discovered was all I needed to be is there. The unfair thing about camp is we are there to serve the kids and give them hope for the future and teach them Gods love and hope, however, what I get is so much more then the kids get. It is an amazing thing to be in the presence of God, to see him work.

Its an exhausting weekend, we must walk 6 miles a day, up and down the hills (so I did get some mileage in) there is a constant need for something (always on the other side of camp). We keep the kids busy with games, crafts, artwork, woodwork, leather work, hikes, swimming, and great food. I had a one plate rule this time, I did not go back for seconds, I wanted to but didnt. Up early and to bed late. Worth every second of it.

I had the pleasure of working with some of the more challenging girls during woodworking. There is something so therapeutic when you are making something with your hands, you cant have attitude or be mad at the wood, and as the bird house started looking like a bird house a transformation happens on their face in I think in their heart. A great bond is then formed when two people together complete a project that no one else was a part of. It makes conversation a bit easier the next time. I also almost lost all my hair. The girls were making PVC flutes and they were not really getting into them and most did not want to do the project. So in my great mind I came up with the challenge that if they made the flute and played Amazing Grace on it I would let them shave my head. Well lets just say they made the flutes and luckily for me did not have time to practice the song.

When the kids get off the bus they have a look of fear and an attitude about them. Watching the transformation over the 3 days is something I dont think I can put words to. I was touched by random acts of kindness, I heard Gods laughter and saw His smile on those girls. When we have to say goodbye on the final night, it is heart breaking, all I can do is trust in God to care for them and pray for them.

I came home for 2 days and went back to boys camp. Three more days and just as many miracles. We had a formal dinner at both camps. For the boys camp we taught the boys how to tie a tie and we all wore them for dinner, many of the boys had never worn a tie. The councilors taught each boy manners at the table, it was something to see. One of the best moments from camp for me was when a 15 year old boy was reaching around one of the more challenging boys back to help him with his tie. God in action.

We then took a family camping trip across the 154 from where camp was. Did some fishing, swimming and relaxing. It was one of the best family camping trips we have had. The kids were great and had a blast playing with each other. Emily and I had a great time just being there and not stressing about what was next.

What is next is back to school, soccer, softball and busy. I dont have to do a mid day school pick up so my training time during lunch is on like Donkey Kong. So even though I did not log offical training, I feel like I have done a lot.

The race by the way is sold out.

If I only had more

Time & Money, Seconds & Inches, these are the things that bits of life are made of. If only I had more time...more money...if I could run a few seconds faster...if I only could lose a few inches...

Things would be better wouldn't they?

The fist week was awesome desire and motivation made me WANT to do it. I did some sort of activity 5 out of 7 days. The second week was so painful, but if I push through the pain, it will be easier. Did something 4 out of 7 days. The third week I was sore and tired, but still worked in 3 out of 7 days. Fourth week 3 of 7. The fifth week 4 days out of 7 and actually had my best run yet on Friday of last week. I did a 4 mile run in 40:24 felt great in the legs and the lungs.

Still trying to get the breathing while swimming thing down. Watched a group of 8 year olds do it yesterday at the pool while Annie and Cameron were taking lessons. It's a lot easier to learn when you have no bad habits to break.

Life is busy right now, Emily was gone for a week, my parents came out for a week, I am heading off to TRAC for the next two weekends, soccer coaching classes and the list goes on. I love my life and I am not complaining, just realizing how finding time/making time to meet my goal will be part of the overall goal.

Good thing I am just working on a good solid base right now!

I also need to change my eating habits! Not much has changed in this area, so I am also not getting the results I would like on the inches part!

I how ever in the last 5 weeks have done more then in the last 5 months! Progress not perfection!

Pizza is not training food.

Had pizza for lunch on Friday and Saturday, then had left over pizza for dinner on Sunday. My legs felt as if all the cheese just went right into my legs. I had a hard time picking them up on my lunch run. Plus the fact that it was 100 degrees outside...wait sorry it was only 71 degrees and the sun was out, it must have been the 30 pound jacket of fat that I wear. It is getting smaller though.

I met up this morning with my new swim coach Randy B. and I am grateful to have him. If he was not at the pool this morning and I got in and did a few laps I would have tried to get my money back for the race. The swimming part has been what has kept me out of triathlons. I am self taught and had no reason to swim with my head in the water, since I was never going to far. Randy has faith in me and that is what I need for the swim part. I have to learn how to breathe without lifting my head out of the water. Learning to swim all over again really. Randy feels I can have this down in a week or so, there is hope. When I get this part I will reduce my effort by a ton. Right now I waste a lot of extra energy by holding my head up. Extra energy is what I will need.

In the pool we (Team EPC) used this morning I would have to swim 84.5 laps to make 1.2 miles. I could not really do 1 lap with good form and not feel out of breath. I am so glad I have 263 days 16 hours and 28 minutes to learn.

Next to Randy and I was a 70+ year old man that has done several Tri's including the one I am going to do. He had several pointers too. Most of which were about the race day, good tips, however, all I could think of was dude, I can not even swim to the end of the pool and back yet.

Thanks Randy, I know that you feel I am your motivation, but I really need the help.

Tonight I will not eat pizza or ice cream!

Dude it could rain.

I find it funny how quickly I can talk myself out of doing something. The plan was a lunch run today, and I got up early, and my phone said rain, there were clouds in the sky, I could hardly do all of my sets of push ups. I had a lot of reasons in my head not to run, like Em and the kids were going to the movie at lunch time, however, I pushed through and did a 3.11 mile run in 33 minutes. It was also the best I felt running to this point. I am so glad I pushed through the negative and ran...well slow jog/fast walk time.

Push ups a are getting hard. The first week hurt like heck, the second week I burned through them and this week they are killing me, I can barley make it to the required set number. I hope Friday will be better.

I think that my lungs are getting to a point where I am ready to start swimming. Dont want to be sucking in water. Some one thinks a speedo is a great idea. NOT, I can not even imagine trying one on.

It is official after 2 days of weigh ins I have lost 3 pounds. I dont count it unless I get it two days in a row. So only 30 more pounds to go.

268 days, 14 hours and 41 minutes.

Scary Thought

I did 83 push ups in sets this morning, I dont think I have done that many push ups since high school football. My guns are so big that I had to wear a shirt with no sleeves...not really but I did have to try on two shirts (one was Camerons).

On to the scary thought, I was running at lunch 4 miles in 44:05 a new snail speed record. I had a thought, will I have to wear spandex for the race? I have a rule and I dont fit my own rule so I am not a candidate for spandex. I currently wear loose shorts and shirt untucked for proper blousing as not to show off my large backside and tummy. Which by the way was having a fight today with my headphones. My tummy was tugging the cord out of my ears once I got a bit sweaty. I dont know if by 4/2/11 I will be spandex ready, the thought I had of me wearing spandex was that of trying to put a water melon into a can coozy...it just dont work. I was also having some chafing going on about mile 3, and had to do the lift right leg out in a funny way to get the shorts between the legs again. Maybe spandex does not ride up....ummmm

I'll let you all know about that decision as time goes on.

June totals 36.17 miles run/rode/spun, 2,583 calories, 0 pounds lost. If I did not have 47 billion calories over the weekend that might have been different.

I can see my self finishing in my minds eye so the goal is real. I just need to be smart and train well.

Thanks to all of you for your support and encouragement, it means a lot. I look forward to running, ridding, ans swimming with some of you.

Have a great and happy Independence Day. I will try not to eat too much at the crap fair on Sunday.

Taters and Mac

Week one in the books followed by a weekend of bad...really bad eating. Comfort food, perhaps, too much food for sure. I think I ate Tri-tip, BBQ chicken, garlic mashed potato's (with cheese and butter & whole garlic cloves) mac & cheese with a few thousand calories, and butter soaked bread sticks for 7 straight meals in a row. Not on ANY ONES training menu.

Two days off then I started Monday morning with push ups 64 of them in sets. I am amazed actually how fast I have been able to do more.

Tuesday, rode the spin bike for 30 minutes and did a step work out changing it up every 2 minutes. 12.7 miles in one spot, with Annie asking why I was breathing so hard, and Cameron asking why I was going so slow. Well kids...I have it on a hard setting and am trying to go fast.

Did push ups this morning, its getting harder, but did 72 over 5 sets.

The crazy thing here is that aside from what I said in the first part of this message, my appetite has changed. When I was doing nothing, I could not eat enough, just could not get full. Now that I have started moving my large tush about, I am not as hungry and dont want as much to eat and what I am craving is not hangaburs (as Cam would say)! Maybe there is hope 275 days 20 hours and 20 minutes to go!

Oh Boy

Thats me on the left. I thought it best not to put a shorts only shot on the site.

I want to thank God for allowing me the extra oxygen I sucked in while I did my first run today. I will also be glad when the push up firm up my chest, because the bouncing of my man boobs was about to much to take.

2.06 miles in 21.52 minutes, not setting any land speed records thats for sure. There was a hill on the route, just thought I should point that out. Had to walk and make some adjustments to the shorts and the headphones once or twice.

4 days in still the same weight, what's up with that.

I was able to make it up the stairs at work...I feel good about that.

Training

To train for a 70.3 mile race, how do you start?

I cant swim a full lap in the pool, well I dont know if I can or not I am thinking I cant.

Have not run except to the fridge for months.

My bikes have more dust then miles on them...well I guess if you count miles on top of the Sequoia the bike has miles traveled, just not under my power. Heck the bike went all the way to Death Valley and back without ever coming off the SUV.

Where oh where do I start?

Emily and I are doing a six week program to be able to do 100 push ups. We started on Monday. Monday the day after fathers day so I could indulge in lots of food and desert. Which I did. I was not sure I could do 10 push ups I ended up doing 45 in sets following tier 3. Then I rode the spin bike for 9.1 miles in 20 minutes. A good first day.

Day two, no push ups...thank GOD, since I had a hard time washing my hair. I rode my road bike from the Toyota place to work 3.47 miles in 15 minutes and yes my backside hurt like heck ALREADY. Then rode back after work to pick up the Sequoia. Miles are adding up, have to take advantage when I can, right.

Day three, Push ups. 5 sets, 90 seconds in between. Ended up doing 56 push ups.

Stay tuned for training updates and my emotional update on this new goal in my life.

by the way, I set this goal one because I have never done an Ironman, and two, it has the your crazy factor where people say your crazy for doing that. and I like that. finally to do it I will have to lose the weight, I so want to be under 200 pounds.

The PAINful Start

So for the last few months I have been unhappy about my fitness level and weight...I am the heaviest I have ever been! I need goals to stay in shape, I don't know why just being healthy or to live longer for the kids is not enough. It's just not. A few years back I did adventure races and that was what kept me in shape. I had to do it or die during the event. I guess the motivation of shelling out a few hundred made it more real. For me eating bad and lack of exercise go hand in mouth. When I run I don't want to eat like crap, when I sit on the couch I eat like crap, because whats the point, right.

My friend that I usually do adventure races with needs the motivation as well, but we have not been able to get together to commit on a race in the last 2 years. I am not blaming him. I am still the one who is fat and gets winded way to easy now.

With that in mind I have been thinking of doing something I don't need a friend to enter, yet still have a goal to shoot for. Now a goal of losing 33 pounds is a good goal, but not a reason to lose it. I have always loved the Ironman races but who has time to train for a 140.6 mile race. Not me. It takes a lot of time which I dont seem to have. Ironman also has a half race or 70.3 that I believe I can do. 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike ride, and 13.1 mile run. When I did the last few adventure races we did 8 -10 mile of kayaking 40 -50 miles of mountain biking, and 15 or so miles of walking/runnning/bushwacking all the while finding our way with a map and compass. Most of the extra miles were on account of me getting us lost.

In theory I should be able to turn this into an Ironman...right.

My main problem is I cant swim a mile point two. Plus I am seriously out of shape (photo to come)

I entered the race yesterday. The cash motovation has been taken care of. I started to move in an exersizing way. Here I come California Ironman!

Follow this short fat weekend warrior on his way to 70.3