January Resolution and training update.

Back at the beginning of the month I laid out some simple resolutions. Just wanted to provide an update to what is happening.

1. Reduce the amount of soda I drink.
This one is harder than I thought it would be. I've found the biggest challenge is with meals and I've gotten to the point where I don't have diet soda with every meal so that's progress. I've found I don't drink soda just to drink. When I'm thirsty and not eating, plain water is fine (cue Bobby Boucher from the Waterboy). I've mixed in Diet Snapple and Diet Arizona Ice Tea for meals and find that works, especially for breakfast. I have some Crystal Light to try too. I haven't gone a full day without soda yet but I think I'll get there soon.


2. Increase my strength and flexibility.
   I didn't even bother with the initial test putting myself in the lowest category for the hundred push up challenge. I was making progress having done the first two weeks twice then my hip/knee started hurting more. I also got "The Perfect Pushup" that seems to make me do the pushups with good (dare I say perfect) form. Who knew they were harder when you do them right? Still more wood to chop here but I'm still at it.
   
   I'm fairly happy with my stretching program. It is rare that I don't do it daily. Of course it help that this is the primary path to recovery from my latest injuries. The program takes about 25 minutes from beginning to end focusing on hamstrings, ITB, glutes, and hip flexors. I feel good about my progress here.

The focus of this blog used to be on my training and racing. Even though I haven't been dwelling on that, I think I haven't completely atrophied. In the month of January:

• I rode 247 miles (mostly on the Computrainer with a little bit of mountain biking thrown in).
• I walked/ran 27 miles (yes there was a Disney Half Marathon squeezed in there)
• Swam 8 short swim sessions (4.0 hours swimming).

Most of these workouts haven't been at a high intensity but looking back at it, it could have been worse. In fact, I reviewed 2009's January's workouts and found that this year's bike is much longer, run is about the same and I had more swim sessions this year (but shorter overall duration). If my hip/knee improves I should be in a good place to ramp up my fitness for the race season (after all it is still January for at least a few more hours). I have a half marathon scheduled for early April, but my first "focus" event is St Anthony's Olympic Triathlon at the end of April and I only need to be able to survive run a 10k for that. Then on to Eagleman70.3 in June.


In summary, the resolutions aren't resolved yet and the work outs are still working out.


Rock on.