Post # 1 -- Plan and Purpose

As pretty much everyone knows, I am a bit of a dreamer. I have a tendency to come up with ideas and plans that seem exciting and adventurous, but usually turn out to be incredibly dangerous and just plain stupid (as I finally realized when I was climbing out of a frozen lake a few weeks ago). Generally, I have been able to convince some of my lower functioning friends to participate in my "plans" with me, but it looks like I'm on my own for this one.

Anyway -- For my next "project" I have decided to train for and compete a half-iron distance triathlon. When I first came up with the idea, I was able to calm myself by repeatedly thinking, "it's only a half" and "people do the full every day." Well unfortunately, I have now realized that a half is not a piece of cake, that people don't actually do the full every day, and that this race will take me a solid 6.5 hours to complete (assuming everythign goes well).

For those of you that don't know, a half iron distance event consists of a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike ride, and 13.1 mile run. The event I am signed up for is the Gulf Coast Triathlon which takes place on May 9, 2009, in Panama City Beach, FL (I think that is the correct city, I better double check that). I have been following a training plan for the past 12-13 weeks, but have not been keeping a proper log or doing anything that would actually hold me accountable to my training schedule (or my friends). Hence, the purpose of this blog.

The plan is for me to get on here every day and post what I have done and how I'm feeling about things. I know that these topics will be of absolutely no interest to anyone but myself, and I am o.k. with that. But, if you would like to keep up with my newest "project," you are more than welcome to follow along.

**** Also, let me take this opportunity to thank Jessi, my wonderful wife, for allowing me the opportunity to do this. It doesn't really seem like alot, but when combined with my work schedule, finding 7-10 hours a week to train really takes a toll on some of our down time and what I'm able to do around the house (not that I was terribly helpful to begin with). So, thanks Jessi, and hopefully this will teach me to make future projects a little less involved. After all, it's only 11 weeks and 2 days away (that sent a little panic through me).

O.K. -- so here goes. . . .

Yesterday (2/18/09) -- I went to my masters swim class at 5:00 a.m. for about 1 hour and 20 minutes (appx. 2000 yards). Last night at 7:00 p.m. I ran for 58:01 minutes -- 6.32 miles.

Today (2/19/09) -- I went to swimming this morning, arriving at 5:00 a.m. to find out that I failed to check my e-mail last night and swimming was cancelled for the day. I am of the opinion that I still get credit for this workout because I really hate getting up that early. I have a 40 minute run on my schedule for tonight.

Later,
Danny.