Challenge......ACCEPTED

***Title said in my best Barney Stinson voice....be sure and pause an inordinate amount of time between words***

Challenges have been a part of history as much as anything else....

Christopher Columbus - challenged to be the first to discover new lands

Burr/Hamilton Duel - A fight to the death

JFord and Brads 2015 Redman Challenge...

All have been historical in nature and all will be talked about for years.

I am a little upset that I am the challengee....and not the challenger.  As an only child, I need to be the challenger.  But since I'm not, I'll need to make up for it with smack talk and subsequent excuses.

Lets back up a little bit.  I "met" James - Click here for his blog - and follow him -  on Beginnertriathlete.com a little over a year ago.  We mentored a group of true beginners together and both could commiserate, motivate, and lean on each other as we were both going through Ironman training at the same time.  As y'all know, I did IMTX in May and JFord did Redman in September.  The difference in IMTX and Redman is very slight.  They are both "140.6" distances and a side from that, there isn't much of a difference.  However....to hear me talk about it....Redman is A LOT easier for 2 main factors.  One...it's not an Ironman race and Two...it's not in Texas.  That right there makes it a ton easier.

So....when JFord crossed the finish line (and beat my time)....I sent him texts and FB posts congratulating him but he also received the "but it's not a real race" texts and posts as well.

Well....he's upped the ante and challenged me to Redman 2015.  Mano y Mano....same course, same date, same race, same start time......this will define who the better triathlete is.....and crown the best of all time. 

When I told my wife about this, she said "I thought you weren't doing another Ironman?"  To which I said "but I was challenged".  She just shook her head.  Pffft.....she don't get it....wimm-in....pssh.

Now....where are my shoes?  Are cobwebs normal on a bike?  These Reese's PB Cups look amazing....

Hey There....remember me?

Well....this is awkward.  You know...we have our little fun, say we'll talk and hang out, never really do and then run into each other at the store.....

I feel like there's a lot that's happened, but I can't really think of much.  I'm into 13.1 training now and should be around the 9 mile mark for my long runs, but just completed 7 this past weekend.  I was shooting for a PR of Sub-2 for the race on 10/12 (the Showdown Half) http://www.showdownhalf.com/  but it's looking more like a good jump start to marathon training. 

I volunteered for a sprint tri over the weekend.  Saw some people I know, saw some familiar faces, and got to give back to the sport that's treated me well.

I also found out that I'm a finalist for a Brand Ambassador gig with EnduroPacks.  http://www.enduropacks.com/  I was interviewed over the phone last week and got an e-mail over the weekend that they want to send me a one month trial and have me review it, etc....and if they like my 'social interaction' on the web, I could possibly be a 3-month Ambassador.  Go check them out.  It's a new company.....focused on the recovery aspect of training....which is my nemesis.

Also....JFord is about to embark on an amazing 140.6 journey.  He's doing Redman in OKC this weekend.  You can follow him on FB and via his blog (http://memphishassumthin2say.blogspot.com/)

We have a lot going on these next few weekends.....lots of family things.  This is where we, as amateur athletes, shine.  We have to get our training in and balance the family time too....which if it comes down to it, I pick the family.  But.....I can get my azz outta bed at 4:30a and get it done before anyone even knows I was gone.

I'll be posting more....I'll be looking for new followers.

Spread the word on my blog....and get me some followers people!!!!!

Tomorrow....Don't Turn Into This

We've all heard it and said it "I'll start tomorrow" or "I'll do it tomorrow".......

There are 7 days in a week and none of them are called tomorrow.

Get out and make it happen.

Last night I did a quick loop of 4.5 miles and then drove to the gym for a 2500m swim.  I did half of a mile for JFord and the last 100m was for him too.  He's been under the weather for a few days and I know it's eating him alive.  But he knows that rest is best.

Tonight is 3:30 trainer ride.  I'll probably shorten it to 3 hours and give some pushes and sprints and do some up/down drills too.

Tomorrow is Good Friday and the wife and kiddo's are off of school/work, so instead of having to get up and get everyone ready, I'll have some 'me' time.  The only debate is do I sleep in until around 6:45 and get additional rest or do I get up around 5:00, gym by 5:40, swim until 6:20, home by 6:45????  Hmmmmm......

It's mah Baby Momma's burfday...

The light of my life, my world, my everything......she's lucky to have me.    HA.  I'm truly blessed to have her in my life and that she puts up with my shit.

She's been doing some pintrest projects and had a bunch of little wooden letters laying around.  I made this for her to wake up to this morning.

As it's her birthday, we are going to dinner tonight and I will probably over eat and then not want to workout.  So....I got up and did a 2 mile jog (had 4 on the schedule) and then swam 1600m (had 1800 on the schedule).  My time for the 1600m was 27:25.  I was flying today (not on purpose).  I was going through the water with ease, breathing was on point, smooth strokes.....it all came together.  It'll probably fall apart on Friday for my next swim....but today was what I needed.

My buddy and co-mentor JFord is giving away a hydration pack on his blog.  Click the big words to enter.  Tell em Brad sent you.  He'll know what you mean.

HYDRATION PACK GIVE AWAY

 

 

Also....last night, the 7 year old wanted to do her own "home improvment project".  I got 2 scrap 2x4's, cut them and made a "frame".  What we are going to do is mount it to the house, outside, and put little flowers on it.  It's like a plant frame.  She wanted it pink, so daddy went to Home Depot and got pink spray paint for it.  By the time I got home from there and finished it all up, it was 9p.  I was supposed to do 3:00 on the bike, but settled for 2:30.  Watched the movie Sinister.....HOLY CRAP!....and then watched another episode of FireFly...then called it a night since I was getting up earlier to 'Do Work' this morning.

 

 

Wood Filler

Sanding


 

 Painting

 

 

 



Crazy (and Lazy) Night

Last night started out like any other "after school" night.  J got on the treadmill again for 8 minutes while we chatted about her day.  As I had a lunch meeting (which is a company sponsored Bible Study/Lesson - with local Pastors that come in to teach) dinner was "on your own night"....which means left overs.

By the time the other kid and the wife got home, got through the feeding, the hissy, the bath, and then my eating....it was almost 8pm.  I was done for the night.  No 3 mile run for this guy.

Tonight is the trainer, which I'm actually looking forward to.  Also....it's X-Men 3 night.....

Saturday is a busy day with lots of "TO-DO's", so it'll be an early morning for an 8 miler (insert Eminem)....


On the BT message boards, I'm a co-mentor with JFORD and we decided on a challenge for the group.  Crunches/Core workout.  JFord said that his goal was 7000 for the month of February.  So, naturally, my goal is 7001.

I have also decided that I will take a pic on 2/1/13 and then take one of 2/28/13 and do a before and after.  I hope to see some results.  Ford said he would to.....and that he "maybe" will post them.  This is the offical "call out"......I'm posting them on 2/28....no matter what!!!!!!!!