You're still here?

So I know that it has been almost 1 year exactly since my last blog.  I took some time away from the sport and dealt with some personal stuff.  Mostly GREAT stuff as I got married in September of last year and then we moved to Nashville, TN.  I trained last summer but was still dealing with some foot issues.  I felt that if I didn't train, then I would get out of shape and that I was letting my "professional" career slip away.  I didn't want to be the pro that turned pro too early and then disappeared.  But guess what, I believe that is exactly what happened, ha.  It is now May of 2013 and I haven't finished a triathlon since September of 2011 at the Tri for Sight in Lexington, KY.  I believe I'm going to compete in some low key races this year just to get some of that fire back.

Ever since 2003, my life has revolved around my workouts.  Whether I was travelling, studying, working, or whatever else, I was always thinking about my workout the next day.  Missing a workout was something that always got under my skin and then I would be the grumpy guy for the rest of the day.  In 2011, it was at its all time high.  I was training more than ever, and sacrificing everything outside of my triathlon career.  I had some pretty good results but I believe I made some of my "A" races the same as a lot of the "faster" guys and I finished outside of the top 10 so I got a little down about most of those results.  Looking back on it, I was averaging close to 300 watts for 56 miles and then running in the ball park of 1:17 - 1:15 off the bike for 13.1 miles.  (I wish I was in that kind of shape right now.)  Anyways, I believe things happen for a reason.  I got hurt, was forced to put things in perspective, and am finally getting better.  I fought that plantar facsia injury for most of last year until I got to my breaking point in September.   Right after the wedding, I finally decided I was going to take time off completely.  I still swam a few days a week but that was about it.  We went on our honeymoon in December and I had a job where I was working 40 - 45 hours a week, but they were later in the day shifts so I was working a lot of 11 - 8 or 9 pm so I was mostly doing a short swim before work followed by a little lifting. Then we got short staffed at work so I ended up working a lot of 9-8 shifts thus cutting more into my workout time.  Not that I was training that much.  My foot still didn't feel like it was getting better after 10 weeks of no running what-so-ever. I did my research and decided that not running was not the answer.  I got some professional "scraping" done, did a lot of foot strength exercises, and got some custom orthotics.

I finally started running again mid December.  I was running 3-4 time a week for 2-4 miles at about 9-10 min. per mile pace.  And it was NOT easy.  I just kept this up and gradually picked up my mileage.  January of 2013 I ran about 120 miles for the whole month.  All of it was slow mileage with maybe my fastest mile during that being a 7:45 mile in the middle of a random run.

During all of this time, I was getting in a short workout, then making time for all of the other things going on in my life.  If I didn't get around to running one day, no big deal.  Especially making time for my new wife, even if it was just laying around and watching a movie on a Sunday afternoon.  It was nice to not worry about workouts and be a little more relaxed about my eating habits.  I didn't have to go to bed early on Friday worrying about getting in a 5 am bike ride on Saturday that was 3 hrs long with race pace efforts before traveling/working later Saturday morning.

I now have a new job that has set hours that never change outside of 8-5 and that works great.  I finally am getting that fire back in me as triathlon season is starting and I'm seeing results that are just mind blowing.  Guys are swim crazy fast, then 20-30 guys are holding 300+ watts for the bike leg then getting off and running 1:15 or faster.  I know I have a lot of work to do, but I'm up for the challenge.
April 1st was my first swim since November and it was ugly, ha.  I now have a month of swimming and it is coming along.  I am running consistently and cycling is the last thing that I've really wanted to do but it's finally coming around.

Motivation is definitely something that comes and goes and I didn't want to start my comeback too early before I was ready.  Forcing workouts is never a good idea.  Take a break when you need it, mentally and physically, and train hard when its called for.  I have been very consistent with my workouts since January, even if it has only been a 2 mile run at 9 min. per mile pace.

One big change that I've focused on this off season that has been a change of pace for me is lifting weights.  I have hit the gym at least 2-3 times a week this whole winter and definitely feel stronger than I have in the past.  Focusing mainly on leg strength and my stabilizer muscles as I'm pretty sure they were all pretty week from my down year and my injury.  I will blog more to come, I promise.  And I'm not down for the count, just took a little sleeper.

Tony