Discouraged, beat down...but not defeated!

It has been a hard 30 days with all the busyness of December all the extra food and sweets around and a lack of time. I have not been feeling as if I can do this race; actually I have stopped calling it a race and started calling it an event...since I am not really racing anyone but the clock.

The pool was closed for 2 weeks, so I could not swim and the ocean was not a place to be after all the rain, so I did not get my swims in. I struggled when I did get back in the pool and wanted to be farther along then I was. Last Monday I had a really bad swim, then Tuesday I had a really bad run, followed by another bad swim on Wednesday. I was really discouraged, beat down and felt defeated and I was really questioning my ability to to do the event. Since its only going to get harder.

My poor swimming habits (breathing) were making it really hard to go the distance. Holding my breath and sucking in water were not helping me go very far. I surrendered, gave up/in and prayed for help. Went online to the discussion group for the race and posted my frustration. I received a quick reply of encouragement and a few ideas, I also went to the web (everything can be found there) and watched so really good training videos with some drills. Randy was great he has been showing up and telling me I can do it, but I was not hearing him. With Randy's and Skips encouragement I set out on Thursday to try to swim without expectation and focus on doing it right even if I only could swim 100 yards. I practiced the drills and felt ok about the day.

Friday I ran with the kids from Em's class at Arroyo Verde and had a great run, then it was time to meet Randy at the pool. I was going to just do 25 yards at a time focusing on my stroke and breathing. Really when I think about it if God wanted us to breath in the water we would look more like a fish! I swam 1000 yards a bit over a 1/2 mile, 25 yards at a time. That works out to 40 laps and I did 30 very well. I ended the week hopeful. once again.

The weather was awesome on Saturday for a ride so Ryan and I headed out to Wheeler Canyon and had a great 30 mile ride.

Heard a great message on Friday about my idol (finishing the race) I forgot that without God I am not going to do it at all and I was reminded to bring him with me. Then on Sunday heard another great message about knocking out the negative thoughts and staying positive. Pastor Matt even ended the sermon with a Ironman story.

Today is Monday I had a good swim, not perfect but getting better did 1250 or .71 miles, I think I am so close to figuring it out. I tried to run holding my breath every 3 seconds and its not a good way to run. I just have to swim like I run so I can keep moving without starving for oxygen which make me tired and my stroke fall apart.

A big plus has been having people to ride and swim with. So if you want to join me on a swim, ride or run lets do it.

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.